WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) joined Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and all 31 Democratic members of the committee in introducing a sweeping infrastructure package, the Leading Infrastructure For Tomorrow’s America Act, or LIFT America Act, that will rebuild America through investments in combating climate change, expanding broadband access and protecting public health and the environment.
“We can’t compete in a global economy and succeed at home if we don’t have the infrastructure to move goods and bring us into the future,” said Dingell. “If we want to get to a carbon-less society, we have to combat the climate crisis head on by moving toward a clean energy future. The LIFT America Act does just that. A smart infrastructure plan like the LIFT America Act will create good-paying jobs, make a down payment on electric vehicle charging network, expand our nation’s broadband network, and makes important improvements to drinking water infrastructure.”
Chairman Pallone also announced that the Full Committee will hold a hearing on the bill on Wednesday, May 22, at 10 am in the John D. Dingell Room, 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled, “LIFT America: Modernizing Our Infrastructure for the Future.”
The LIFT America Act includes investments in several key areas, including:
Action to Combat the Climate Crisis and Protect Our Environment:
- Over $33 billion for clean energy, including $4 billion to upgrade the U.S. electric grid to accommodate more renewable energy and make it more resilient. It also includes $4 billion for the expansion of renewable energy use, including $2.25 billion for the installation of solar panels in low-income and underserved communities. LIFT America also includes $23 billion for energy efficiency efforts – namely retrofitting and weatherizing buildings, including schools and homes, to ensure they produce fewer carbon emissions – and funding the nationwide deployment of more clean energy fuels.
- $2.7 billion to spur the development of Smart Communities, including $850 million in technical assistance to help cities and counties integrate clean energy into their redevelopment efforts, and $1.4 billion to support the development of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network.
- More than $21 billion to protect Americans’ drinking water, including $2.5 billion to establish a new grant program allowing PFAS-affected communities to filter the toxic chemicals out of their water supplies. LIFT America also expands upon the passage of the 2017 Safe Drinking Water Act by extending and increasing authorization for the State Revolving Loan Fund, and other safe water programs.
- $2.7 billion for Brownfields redevelopment to revitalize communities and create jobs by returning valuable land to productive use.
Expanding Access to Broadband Internet:
- $40 billion for the deployment of secure and resilient high-speed broadband internet service to expand access for communities nationwide and bring broadband to 98 percent of the country.
- $12 billion in grants for the implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 services to make 9-1-1 service more accessible, effective, and resilient, and enable Americans to send text messages, images, or videos to 9-1-1 in times of emergency.
- $5 billion in federal funding for low-interest financing of broadband infrastructure deployment through a new program that would allow eligible entities to apply for secured loans, lines of credit, or loan guarantees to finance broadband infrastructure build out projects.
Investing in America’s Health Infrastructure:
- $2 billion in funding to reauthorize the Hill-Burton hospital infrastructure program, including targeted assistance to support cybersecurity in the health system.
- $1 billion for Indian Health Service infrastructure projects to reduce health disparities in Indian Country.
- $100 million to support state labs on the frontlines of fighting infectious diseases.
- $100 million to establish a community-based care infrastructure program and to develop teaching health centers and mental health care centers.
- $3.5 billion to improve public health infrastructure at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and at state, local, tribal and territorial health departments.
A section-by-section of the bill is available HERE, and the text of the bill is available HERE.
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