WASHIINGTON – Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday unveiled a bill that would provide more than $85 billion for drinking water, electric grid, renewable energy, brownfields, health care and broadband infrastructure.
The Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s (LIFT) America Act, H.R. 2479, focuses on areas within the committee’s jurisdiction and is sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J. and all but one of the 23 other Democrats on the committee. Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., does not appear to be a sponsor at this time.
“The LIFT America Act is a blueprint for critical investments in our nation’s infrastructure that will also create jobs, promote economic growth and protect public health, and the environment,” said Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J. “I’m pleased to introduce this comprehensive bill with my Democratic colleagues on the Committee, and look forward to advancing these key investments in American infrastructure.”
The bill would authorize $22.56 billion over five years for drinking water infrastructure, including more than $21 billion for the drinking water state revolving fund, $1.1 billion to remove and replace sources of lead in drinking water, and $250 million to help drinking water systems address vulnerabilities such as climate change and terrorism.
Another $17 billion would be authorized over five years for energy infrastructure, including $4 billion for electric grid modernization, security, resilience and efficiency, $8 billion for resilient and renewable energy and $4 billion for energy efficiency and smart community programs.
The most funding, about $40 billion, would be provided to expand access to secure and resilient broadband to communities nationwide. Another $2.7 billion would be used for Brownfields redevelopment, and more than $3 billion would be provided for health care infrastructure, including supporting state labs fighting the Zika virus and other infectious diseases.
