Friday night, President Biden and Democrats delivered a major win for America and the state of Louisiana.

House Democrats, including our very own Congressman Troy Carter, passed President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the largest investment in American infrastructure in nearly a century. It guarantees over $7 billion for Louisiana to upgrade our roads, bridges, ports, water infrastructure and expand broadband access.

“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a historic win for America and Louisiana delivered by President Biden and Democrats,” said Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Katie Bernhardt. “It is a much-needed investment in Louisiana that will make our roads and bridges safer, our water cleaner, our commutes shorter, and expand internet access to every Louisiana family. It will also make Louisiana more competitive and help us attract more jobs to our state.”

If you drive on Louisiana roads, then you know they are in desperate need of attention. We currently have 3,411 miles of roadway in bad condition, enough to stretch from New Orleans to Canada and back! These roads cost Louisiana drivers $667 a year on average. President Biden’s infrastructure bill sends $4.8 billion to Louisiana to repave our roads.

Louisiana has 1,634 bridges that are structurally deficient. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act sends Louisiana an additional $1 billion for bridge replacement and repair, which ranks 7th among states in the amount allocated. Additionally, Louisiana can compete for our share of $12.5 billion in grant funds set aside for repairing economically significant bridges.

Public transit is essential for economic development. It’s how many Louisianans get to work. Unfortunately, one-fourth of Louisiana’s public transit vehicles are beyond their useful life, and Louisiana passengers waste an extra 62% of their time commuting. This bill provides $470 million to modernize public transit statewide, making it more accessible, quicker, and efficient. 

Affordable, high-speed internet is not a luxury. It is indispensable in a modern economy. Yet, 19% of Louisianans do not have internet, and 10% live in an area without broadband infrastructure. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Louisiana will receive a minimum of $100 million to expand broadband coverage across the state. This investment will provide high-speed internet access to the 470,000 Louisianans who currently lack it. It will also help more than one-third of Louisianans afford broadband access. 

Louisiana families suffer 1,700 boil notices a year due to aging and compromised pipes. This bill includes $580 million to upgrade Louisiana’s water infrastructure, including funds to replace all lead pipes. 

NOTE: Republicans John Kennedy, Steve Scalise, Mike Johnson, Garret Graves, Clay Higgins, and Julia Letlow voted NO on this infrastructure bill in an effort to deny Louisiana this historic investment.