WASHINGTON (Nov. 17, 2021) — Now that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) has been officially signed into law, contractors and construction businesses nationwide are preparing to tackle the influx of projects that will come as a result of the $1.2 trillion legislation. To keep this monumental undertaking moving, President Biden has appointed Mitch Landrieu as senior advisor responsible for coordinating for implementation of the historic bipartisan infrastructure law. Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans, will oversee the most significant and comprehensive investments in American infrastructure in generations.
“I am thankful to the President and honored to be tasked with coordinating the largest infrastructure investment in generations,” Landrieu said in a statement released on whitehouse.gov. “Our work will require strong partnerships across the government and with state and local leaders, business and labor to create good-paying jobs and rebuild America for the middle class. We will also ensure these major investments achieve the President’s goals of combating climate change and advancing equity.”
The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) praised the passage of the bill in a statement this week.
“Today, America made a big step forward towards repairing and rebuilding our nation’s critical infrastructure systems,” said NUCA CEO Doug Carlson. “Our members are eager to get to work. They’ll be the ones excavating trenches for new water and wastewater lines. They’ll be the ones replacing dangerous lead pipes to bring clean drinking water to communities across the nation. They’ll be building stormwater systems and new water treatment plants. They’ll also be laying new fiber-optic broadband cables, and helping to build modern ports, highways, railroads and airports.”
Dennis D. Truax, P.E., president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) also spoke highly of the bill after the organization's 2021 Infrastructure Report Card gave the county a C- grade in 2021.
"The IIJA is the culmination of decades of advocacy by American Society of Civil Engineers members who worked tirelessly to educate Congress about the role infrastructure plays in supporting the economy and our quality of life. ASCE’s Infrastructure Report Cards have sounded the alarm on our nation’s infrastructure conditions since 1998, with new reports being released every four years. While all categories of infrastructure have been the cause of some concerns, the common denominator behind each category’s struggles has been a backlog of projects, overdue maintenance, and a need for resilience."
Utility and Transportation Contractors Association (UTCA) CEO Robert Briant, Jr. sums up how many are feeling now that the long-discussed bill is finally law and the real work can begin.
“Given how long it took to get here, we must double down to accelerate the speed and progress of these projects so we can get this critical work done for our communities. Our members, along with our partners in labor, stand ready, willing and able to get started.”
It's clear that the IIJA will impact the construction industry in 2022 and beyond. Contact aheadley@cahabamedia.com to share your plans to bid upcoming projects, and your comments or concerns about the bill.
