Gus Bilirakis: “I recently met with local and State leaders about the infrastructure needs of our community, which are significant.…”

“I recently met with local and State leaders about the infrastructure needs of our community, which are significant. There is widespread agreement that an investment in our Nation's infrastructure is needed to alleviate traffic, improve flooding conditions, and address other safety concerns. Imagine my disappointment, Madam Speaker, to learn that less than 10 percent of President Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure package will be spent on roads and bridges. Also of concern, less than 2 percent of the package is allocated for waterways, locks, dams, ports, and airports, which are all very important to the State of Florida; and less than 50 percent is allocated for much-needed broadband expansion, which would help to address the digital divide in our country. These traditional infrastructure projects, coupled with infrastructure investments that are linked to our Nation's security, such as safeguarding our energy grid, water systems, and other critical assets from cyber and other attacks, are the types of projects my constituents want to see funded. Unfortunately, President Biden is using the guise of infrastructure spending, which enjoys relatively high support among Americans--it is really a bipartisan issue--to push highly partisan and unpopular policy proposals, such as the Green New Deal. Many of these policies will hurt American consumers and workers. The vast majority of spending in the bill consists of non- infrastructure expenditures.…”