Illinois Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor-elect Juliana Stratton recently created the transition team’s Restoring Illinois’ Infrastructure Committee.
The 45-member committee will advise and guide the incoming administration in regards to surface, rail, water, broadband, and community infrastructure. It is the 10th working group created by the transition team.
Maintaining Illinois’ position as a transportation hub is a critical part of the state’s economy, Pritzker said.
Pritzker said his administration will prioritize a 21st Century Capital Bill that will build the infrastructure.
U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) will be the committee chairwoman. Other committee members include U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Congressman-elect Jesús “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL), state Sen. Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago), and state Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea).
Illinois suffers from crumbling infrastructure, and parts of the state do not have broadband internet access. Several committee members emphasized that infrastructure improvements will improve the quality of life in the state.
“Roads and bridges across Illinois are in desperate need of attention, and this committee will take a serious look at how to leverage federal dollars to repair our crumbling infrastructure,” Lipinski said. “As Illinois’ senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I know investments in our roads, public transit, and airports pay dividends, and I’m ready to get to work.”