Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

In a rare bipartisan vote, H.R. 3684, officially known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was signed into law late last year. The bill's five years' worth of investments will have a massive impact on America's critical infrastructures, infrastructure-related industries, and small-town economies. Rural communities should see a big boom with funding directed to all 50 states. Aside from improving national assets, HR 3684 is designed to get millions back to work and reduce unemployment. The current shortage of skilled workers might delay the full benefits of the bill, but the funds will be there.

The PDF version of the bill is well over 1000 pages, but a quick review of its divisions indicates that it goes well beyond the usual infrastructure definitions. The bill provides:

• $110 billion for roads and bridges
• $66 billion for railroads (passenger trains and rail safety)
• $65 billion for the power grid (including clean energy funding)
• $65 billion for broadband
• $55 billion for water infrastructure
• $50 billion + for cybersecurity and climate change
• $39 billion for public transit
• $25 billion for airports
• $21 billion for the environment
• $17 billion for ports
• $11 billion for highway, pedestrian, and pipeline safety - with highway safety getting the bulk of the funding
• $8 billion for western water infrastructure, water treatment, storage, and reuse facilities
• $7.5 billion each for electric vehicle charging stations and electric school buses

Section F (broadband) provides funds for high-speed, affordable broadband internet access and 5G connectivity in remote areas. Rural Americans, small-town municipalities, and local businesses in every part of the country will benefit. Reminiscent of the 1936 Rural Electrification Act, which helped deliver electric service to areas outside major cities, H.R. 3684 will help bring more high-speed broadband internet to rural America. The act will increase access to jobs, education, health care, banking, and markets for farmers and rural small businesses. Rural workers who found it challenging to work from their rural homes or offices will soon easily do so. The bill will pave the way to providing good-paying rural jobs and more business opportunities. Small-town municipalities will find that improved access to web-based data will enhance their ability to automate many activities that previously required physical site visits. With the influx of infrastructure funds, municipalities can spend their budget money for operational productivity improvements.

With the increasing number of new national assets that will need to be protected and enhanced broadband communications in place, you can be sure that Elecsys remote monitors and controls will be at the forefront of the effort to protect these assets. And we will work to maximize the productivity of those charged with asset protection and remote-control opportunities.