Underwood touts passage of infrastructure bill

OSWEGO – U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood said the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill now on its way to President Biden’s desk will deliver big benefits to Kendall County and across the nation.

“We’re bringing significant resources to Illinois,” Underwood, D-Naperville, said Nov. 7 during an event in Oswego. “There will be benefits to local communities immediately.”

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the legislation Nov. 5 on a 228-206 bipartisan vote.

The infrastructure package includes money to build, repair or improve roads, bridges, railroad and airports. There also is funding for transit, water and power systems, as well as broadband service.

Underwood, who was hosting a group of veterans from the 14th Congressional District at the Oswego American Legion Post 675, took time to talk about the legislation.

Despite the rancor over the bill’s spending levels between Democratic progressives and moderates, Underwood said she had no doubt the infrastructure bill would get done.

“I think we have been close all along,” Underwood said. “Democrats are united. We knew we needed to get it done this week. There was never a doubt.”

Underwood said she was happy to see 19 Republicans break ranks and vote for the bill, which polling shows is supported by a broad spectrum of the public.

“That should not have to be a partisan exercise,” Underwood said.

Underwood’s 14th District covers nearly all of Kendall County, as well as portions of Kane, DeKalb, Will, DuPage, McHenry and Lake counties.

Rural areas in Kendall and Kane will benefit from the bill’s broadband expansion, Underwood said.

The congresswoman noted that local communities are already benefiting from the American Rescue Act Fund, which was approved by Congress and signed by the president earlier this year.

The Kendall County Board is in the process of handing out more than $440,000 in grants to local non-profit agencies and organizations that were financially devastated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more grants to small businesses expected to follow.

Underwood said that next up for Congress is Biden’s Build Back Better initiative designed to provide universal preschool, paid parental, sick or caregiver leave, caps on childcare costs and expanded child tax credits.

The legislation also would extend Affordable Care Act subsidies and provide new benefits for Medicare beneficiaries. There would be coverage for a new hearing aid every five years and caps on insulin and prescription drug costs.

There also would be $500 billion in the legislation to fight climate change, mostly using clean energy tax credits.

Underwood, who is a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, noted that the Build Back Better agenda also includes $5 billion to rebuild Veterans Administration hospitals and invest in the VA workforce.