President Biden passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) almost two years ago. One of its key features is expanding discretionary grant funding by 500%. However, Representative Rudy Yakym, a Republican from Indiana’s second district, has recently expressed concern that Indiana is yet to receive its fair share of the available grant funding.
During a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing, Yakym questioned U.S. Secretary of Transportation and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg about this issue and the nation’s supply chain troubles. Yakym emphasized the need to ensure that Hoosiers receive a fair allocation of the available grant funding.
Yakym informed Buttigieg that he had already expressed concerns about the issue earlier. He also pointed out that Indiana was behind all U.S. territories receiving the grant funding.
“That’s tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars in foregone projects to improve Hoosier communities like your former stomping ground of South Bend and across the entire state,” said Yakim.
Buttigieg said the Transportation Department will work towards a more equitable funding solution for Hoosiers.
“We want to make sure like every state, including Indiana, where I spent a majority of my life, get a fair shake in these processes and welcome opportunities to work with project sponsors who came close but didn’t quite make the cut.”
Buttigieg also highlighted the impact that the infrastructure law is having on streamlining the movement of freight across the country. He said efforts are underway to enhance the supply chain issues.
“We’re strengthening supply chains to keep goods moving and reduce prices,” Buttigieg said.
2 comments
I wonder if Rudy has ever considered that when dollars go from Indiana to DC then come back there is a percentage kept off the top. Wouldn’t it be much better if those dollars never went to DC in the first place?
Please cite for me the EXACT place in the 18 enumerated Powers of Congress found in Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution where “Infrastructure” is authorized other than post roads. OR is every bridge or road a post road because mail is delivered on them?
It Didn’t take Rudy very long to become a denizen of DC and a big spender. Don’t ask hat in hand for more money to come back to us. Change the worthless system so the money never goes to DC in the first place.
Exactly right. The entire Federal Grant program needs to be abolished.
They take tax dollars from the local economy and hand it back with strings attached.
“Does your community need a new fire truck? Tough crap, this grant is for a bridge.” If the local government had kept the taxes, they could have simply bought the fire truck…