Infrastructure is important to all Iowans

Last month the U.S. Senate passed a historic bipartisan infrastructure agreement — the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — to modernize and rehabilitate our nation’s core infrastructure, including roads, bridges, transit systems, drinking water pipes, energy grid, and more.

I commend Sen. Chuck Grassley for his support of this legislation. Now, it is up to the House.

Everyone will be impacted if an infrastructure plan fails in Congress. The nation’s infrastructure received a cumulative grade of ‘C-‘ in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, which estimated that the U.S. is set to underinvest in infrastructure by $2.59 trillion over the next 10 years should funding levels remain stagnant. And the state of Iowa received an overall grade of C for its most recent state Report Card in 2019 with both Bridges and Inland Waterways earning a D+ and Dams earning a D.

The $550 billion in new spending over the next five years would significantly improve conditions and protect our public safety. In the area of roads alone, Iowa which has a roads infrastructure funding gap of $1.6 billion annually, stands to receive nearly $4 billion in additional funding over the next 5 years if the IIJA is passed.

I urge Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and the full House to pass a bill quickly and send it to President Biden’s desk. We need leadership in Washington for infrastructure that will protect citizens and drive economic growth for years to come.

Aaron Moniza

Coralville