Carper, Carney, Coons, Blunt Rochester Host USDOT Deputy Secretary Trottenberg to Tout Delaware Wins in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

WILMINGTON, Del. — U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), along with Delaware Governor John Carney, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), today hosted U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg to celebrate the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) becoming law. This bipartisan law will deliver historic investments in Delaware’s infrastructure while creating good-paying jobs.

Watch as these leaders discuss how Delaware will benefit from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“I’m really proud of the hard work we put into getting this bipartisan infrastructure legislation across the finish line and what it is going to mean for Delaware,” said Senator Carper. “Our bill is going to put a lot of Delawareans to work in good-paying jobs modernizing our roads and bridges for twenty-first-century challenges like climate change. It’s also going to deliver a brighter future for families across the First State by investing in clean water, high-speed internet, electric vehicle chargers, and more connected communities. All of this is possible because of President Biden, and I’m extremely thankful for his leadership and tenacity.”

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that President Biden signed last week, we will be able to repair the transportation system Americans rely on today – and build a transportation system that empowers Americans to thrive for generations to come,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg. “Under the leadership of Senator Carper, Delaware’s Congressional delegation wrote some of the most important parts of the law, and helped secure bipartisan votes for it, and I’m thrilled to join them today.”

“This infrastructure bill is the largest investment in transportation and public transit in American history in more than a century,” said Governor Carney. “These investments will position Delaware to compete in the 21st-century economy by repairing our aging roads and bridges, focusing on resiliency and connecting communities. This legislation also will help us upgrade Delaware’s clean water infrastructure, build a network of electric vehicle chargers, and increase access to high-speed internet service. Thank you to the Congressional delegation for their leadership on the bipartisan infrastructure bill that will drive our economy for decades to come.”

“President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a blue-collar blueprint for our country, laying the foundation for years of infrastructure improvements,” said Sen. Coons. “I’m excited for what this means for Delaware, our country, and our future. The newly signed law will deliver much-needed upgrades to our roads, rail lines, water systems, bridges, and broadband. It promotes clean energy and will produce high-quality and good-paying jobs in Delaware and across the United States.”

“Today, Delaware celebrated the resources brought to the state after the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “From roads, to bridges, to broadband and water – this bill helps us recover, rebuild, and restore. Let’s get to work.”

“I’m excited about the incredible opportunity before us to make Delaware’s economy stronger and healthier,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “Thanks to the infrastructure bill, Delaware is going to make significant investments that impact our roads, bridges and sewers, ensure safe drinking water and build the network of charging stations that will support the expansion of electric vehicles, all while reducing our carbon footprint and bringing good paying jobs to help ease the burden on our working class families. Thank you to the Congressional delegation for their commitment to Delaware’s working families and to our unions for helping us put these investments into communities across our state.”

Delaware Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski added, “These projects are critically important not only to the traveling public, but the thousands of people employed in the construction industry across our state. Having this bill finalized gives DelDOT and our contractor community certainty that we will continue to make needed infrastructure investments in the years ahead.” 

HOW THE IIJA WILL BENEFIT DELAWARE:

• Repairing and rebuilding roads and bridges: The IIJA will invest roughly $1.2 billion in Delaware’s highways and $225 million in bridge replacement and repairs. These investments would focus on addressing climate change, enhancing equity, and improving safety for all Delawareans, including cyclists and pedestrians.
• Building a network of EV chargers: Delaware will receive an estimated $18 million to support the expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure.
• Improving healthy, affordable transportation options: The IIJA will invest roughly $220 million to improve public transportation options in the First State.
• Connecting more Delawareans to high-speed internet: The IIJA will invest at least $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the First State. 1 in 5 Delawareans will be eligible for assistance to make internet access affordable.
• Delivering clean drinking water to families: The IIJA will invest more than $355 million to upgrade water systems across Delaware, including critical resources to remove lead pipes and clean up emerging contaminants like PFAS.

BACKGROUND:

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the single largest single infrastructure investment in our nation’s history. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), Senator Carper crafted two pieces of legislation that became the backbone of the IIJA: the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021, which passed the Senate by a vote of 89-2 in April, and the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021, which EPW unanimously reported out of committee in May.

Senator Carper managed passage of the bill by the Senate in August. The House of Representatives later went on to pass the legislation in early November before President Biden signed the IIJA into law last week.

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