Letter to the Editor: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

To the Editor:

Sometimes the work at the U.S. Capitol seems far removed from everyday Iowans. However, the Infrastructure Bill will impact everyday Iowans and Iowa farmers who rely on good roads to get their crops to market, good communication to make economic decisions, and will improve clean water distribution.

According to KCCI.com, the Infrastructure Bill will help Iowans in three basic areas:

• $3.4 billion in highway aid and $432 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five years.
• $100 million from the new federal infrastructure bill to get more people high-speed internet. According to the White House, 16% of Iowa households do not have an internet subscription, and 2.4% of Iowans live in areas with no broadband coverage. The Federal funding will provide high-speed internet access to 74,000 Iowans including the high speed fiber optics in Allamakee County. Governor Reynolds likes to tout the money for fiber optics, but the money is not coming from the State, it is coming from the Cares Act and the Infrastructure Bill, Federal money being dispersed by the State.
• Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Iowa will receive $638 million over the next five years to help eliminate lead service lines and pipes, and that funding will also go toward enhancing treatment centers.

Even with the largest infrastructure bill in history, the average Iowan will not pay more in taxes. The infrastructure bill will be paid by increasing taxes for the top wage earners, the people who can afford to pay a little more - only 2.6% more (Kiplinger.com).

President Biden is not going to increase taxes for the majority of Iowans. If a single filer makes under $452,700 or a married couple makes less than $509,300, taxes will not be increased (Kiplinger.com).

The Democrats are working for the everyday Iowans, not raising taxes.

Ann Fields
Lansing