Carper Leads Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill on Senate Floor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), delivered remarks on the Senate floor encouraging his colleagues to join him in supporting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

Chairman Carper will lead floor debate on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation that will make sorely needed investments in our nation’s infrastructure. This bill builds upon surface transportation legislation passed by the EPW Committee earlier this year, as well as water infrastructure legislation passed by the full Senate by a vote of 89-2. In his remarks, Chairman Carper expressed that this is a first step towards fixing our nation’s infrastructure, and we must do more to meaningfully advance environmental justice and tackle the climate crisis.

“While there is much to celebrate in this product of our bipartisan efforts, more work still needs to be done. Collectively, we’ve incorporated badly needed climate provisions in surface transportation, water, power, and a number of other infrastructure programs. But, in truth, we have—in the words of Robert Frost—‘miles to go before we sleep, miles to go before we sleep,’” said Carper. “…All of us who serve here together understand that every race won begins with a first step and ends with a final one. With the enactment of this legislation, we’ll be taking not one, but a number of important steps.  In the days ahead, we will move a good deal closer to the finish line in a race with a dangerously changing climate that we simply cannot afford to lose.”

Carper continued: “That’s why I will be examining the budget resolution closely in the days ahead to ensure that we are devoting the resources necessary to put climate change on the run and to advance environmental justice…But, the key message of this day is that we’ve pushed through earnest disagreements, varying priorities, and much headache and heartache to achieve a truly singular success in taking on a number of major infrastructure challenges facing our nation.”

You can watch Senator Carper’s full remarks here.