Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) said his bill, the Moving Forward Act, would bring at least $7.6 billion for rail projects along the Northeast Corridor into New Jersey.
Payne co-sponsored the legislation, H.R. 2, that would pump $1.5 trillion back into the nation’s economy through critical infrastructure spending on roads, bridges, and other infrastructure systems, as well as building schools, housing, and broadband systems.
“Our country and the state of New Jersey is in desperate need of new and improved infrastructure,” Payne said. “Everyone knows our roads and bridges are falling apart. The same could be said for our schools and low-income housing developments. All Americans deserve to live in quality housing near good schools with well-paved roads to get there. In addition, this bill will provide millions of new jobs to Americans who are out of work due to the coronavirus.”
The bill includes $300 to fix existing roads and bridges, $100 billion to expand public transportation, $29 billion to expand and upgrade Amtrak and $130 billion to fix and repair high poverty schools, $100 billion to create or improve affordable housing, $100 billion to expand broadband access nationwide, $25 billion for safe drinking water systems, and $70 billion to upgrade the country’s electrical grid to accommodate renewable energy.
The bill is expected to pass out of committee and through the House this week.