Underwood Advocates for 14th District Priorities During Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Member Day; Highlights Need for Action in Illinois | Representative Lauren Underwood
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Underwood Advocates for 14th District Priorities During Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Member Day; Highlights Need for Action in Illinois

April 16, 2021

WASHINGTON– This week, Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) advocated for 14th District transportation and infrastructure needs before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Underwood highlighted projects that would benefit the district including the expansion of Metra mass transit services to Kendall County, expansion of rural broadband access in McHenry County, and upgraded water treatment facilities throughout the district, including in Spring Grove, IL. During the hearing, Underwood emphasized that forthcoming infrastructure packages in Congress must also prioritize the needs of small- and mid- size towns in America, including those throughout northern Illinois.

"In the wake of a devastating pandemic, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this year to fix our nation's neglected infrastructure and set our country up for economic success for decades to come," said Underwood. "This package truly needs to be big-picture when it comes to distributing the resources it includes so that communities in northern Illinois can thrive."

Full video of Underwood's remarks can be found here.

This week, the White House released a new fact sheet, which outlines the urgent imperative to address critical infrastructure needs across Illinois. Illinois previously received a C- grade on its Infrastructure Report Card from the American Society of Civil Engineers, facing many deficiencies that require immediate attention. In Illinois there are 2,374 bridges and over 6,218 miles of highway in poor condition. Over the last decade, commute times have increased by 7.3% in Illinois and on average, each driver pays $609 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair. The American Jobs Plan targets these infrastructure needs and more. This initiative is designed to reenergize our stagnant economy as we begin to recover from the pandemic and the recession, as well as lay the foundation for future economic growth and ensure our nation is competitive in the global economy for decades to come.

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