Spanberger Attends White House Bill Signing for Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, Praises Legislation’s Billions for Virginia Projects

**Click Here for Photos from the Event**

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger today attended the White House signing ceremony for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden.

After strongly advocating for this legislation and highlighting the benefits of the bill for Central Virginia, Spanberger voted to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House earlier this month.

“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act marks a tremendous, bipartisan success that will deliver real results for communities in Central Virginia and across the country. Since arriving in the U.S. House, making responsible investments in our physical infrastructure has been one of my top priorities, and I was honored to be a part of today’s ceremony at the White House,” said Spanberger. “With the stroke of a pen, we are now ready to provide much-needed investments in Virginia’s roads, bridges, broadband internet connectivity, water infrastructure, and rail. Additionally, this legislation has the potential to create thousands of good-paying jobs while addressing many of the supply chain issues currently facing our nation. Now, we begin the hard work of ensuring that this critical funding is properly distributed to projects in our Commonwealth that can improve the lives of Virginia families, keep our businesses competitive, and grow our regional economy.”

The bipartisan infrastructure legislation marks the largest investment in America’s physical infrastructure in generations. Among its provisions for Virginia, the legislation includes an estimated $7 billion for Virginia highways and more than $530 million for Virginia bridge replacement and repairs over five years. Additionally, Virginia is expected to receive a minimum of $100 million to support its ongoing efforts to expand high-speed broadband internet access throughout the Commonwealth, as well as an expected $738 million over five years to improve Virginia’s pipes and water infrastructure.

Click here for a White House fact sheet outlining the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Virginia-focused provisions.

Last week, several Virginia organizations representing Central Virginia workers and businesses — as well as the region’s agriculture, forestry, telecommunications, healthcare, transportation, and recreation sectors — praised the passage of the legislation in the U.S. House and spoke out in support of the bipartisan bill’s historic investments in physical infrastructure projects in the Commonwealth and across the country.

BACKGROUND

Passing a bipartisan, physical infrastructure-focused bill has been one of Spanberger’s major priorities this Congress. In April 2021, she joined fellow Members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus at the White House to discuss a path forward on these much-needed investments. Later that month, Spanberger met with a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, and Governors — including Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, to discuss shared physical infrastructure priorities in several U.S. states.

Following the successful bipartisan negotiation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in July 2021, Spanberger spoke in support of the legislation at a Problem Solvers Caucus press conference outside the U.S. Capitol. Click here to watch her remarks.

In August 2021, Spanberger hosted U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm in Central Virginia to highlight the economic benefits of the bipartisan infrastructure legislation following its passage in the U.S. Senate, as well as to amplify ongoing, community-focused efforts to create clean energy jobs in the region.

And last month, Spanberger and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam joined representatives from several Virginia labor and business organizations to highlight the transformational and job-creating benefits of the bipartisan infrastructure package that was then awaiting action in the U.S. House — and to call for its swift passage.

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