Underwood Secures $81,962,000 in Funding for Technology Development, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention, and Electric Buses
WASHINGTON — This week, Representative Lauren Underwood announced a new round of federal funding she has secured for the University of Illinois, the City of Aurora, and Pace Bus Suburban Bus Division.
As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Underwood has made securing federal resources for northern Illinois a top priority. The following funds will support programs in Illinois with federal resources:
The University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois - $51,000,000
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been designated as one of 31 Tech Hubs that are strengthening the country’s economic, national security, and global competitiveness, and will receive$51,000,000in federal funding from the Bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act.
This funding will be used by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to scale precision fermentation to convert underutilized corn feedstocks into high-value, customized alternative proteins, food ingredients, materials, chemicals, and more. According to the university, advances in fermentation technology now make it possible to create zero-emission, high-value products from agricultural commodities, reducing our dependence on petroleum and revolutionizing the biomanufacturing sector.
Rep. Underwood has advocated for regional tech hubs for Illinois and helped secure the funding through the Bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act.
City of Aurora, Illinois - $51,000
The City of Aurora will receive $51,000 in federal funding from the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Grant Program. This funding will be used to fund state and local government efforts to reduce deaths and injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Rep. Underwood helped secure the funding through the Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2021.
Pace Suburban Bus Division, Illinois - $30,911,000
Pace, the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, will receive$30,911,000 in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding will be used to buy hybrid electric buses to replace vehicles that have exceeded their useful life and upgrade its maintenance facility to adapt to the new technology. Pace will also provide training to operators and mechanics as it works toward a goal of a fully zero-based emissions fleet by 2040.
The use of electric buses willhelp fight climate change in the community, strengthen Illinois’ suburban transit system, and help reduce health risks associated with exposure to air pollution.
Rep. Underwood helped secure the funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.