Durbin Discusses American Rescue Plan, Infrastructure With Macomb Area Chamber Of Commerce
CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss the local impact of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and how President Biden’s American Jobs Plan can help the region address its infrastructure priorities. The ARP included $13.7 billion in state and local funding for Illinois, which will be key to preventing further job losses and keep teachers, healthcare workers, and first responders on the payroll. The flexible funding will allow municipalities to invest in their communities, to help struggling families and small businesses, and to speed up our economic recovery. Macomb is expected to receive an estimated $2 million and McDonough County an estimated $5.7 million.
“The funding provided by the American Rescue Plan will help avoid some of the biggest threats the revenue shortfalls posed to public health departments, first responders, and educators,” Durbin said. “Looking ahead, we have to prepare to make investments in transportation and infrastructure of the 21st century – like broadband, housing, schools, research and development, and manufacturing to keep our communities strong and aid local economic development. I thank leaders at the Macomb Chamber of Commerce for taking the time to speak with me today about how we can move our economy forward.”
President Biden’s American Jobs Plan would invest nearly $2.3 trillion over the next eight years in transportation and water infrastructure, clean energy, housing, broadband, manufacturing, and workforce development. The plan is centered on a more than $600 billion investment in traditional transportation infrastructure including a $115 billion increase to modernize and improve bridges, highways, and roads nationwide, $85 billion for transit, $80 billion for rail, $25 billion for airports, and $17 billion for waterways and ports.
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