U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate voted on a bipartisan basis to advance a once-in-a-generation infrastructure package. Below please find a statement from Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), one of the original G-20 members who worked on the infrastructure framework in June.

“This bipartisan investment in our country’s infrastructure will help create good-paying jobs and grow our economy – all without raising taxes. As we recover from the pandemic, this bill will help fix America’s roads, bridges, and highways while also building the infrastructure of a modern economy.

“This package reflects the priorities that I hear about from Granite Staters every day, including investments in clean drinking water for New Hampshire families; building fast, reliable broadband; strengthening cybersecurity to help combat the growing threat of ransomware attacks; funding coastal resiliency efforts to protect Seacoast communities; boosting local economies through new public transit and passenger rail options; and creating manufacturing and clean energy jobs.

“Today’s vote is a reminder that we can continue to make bipartisan progress by working together to find common ground on the challenges facing our country.”

Hassan worked to directly negotiate important Granite State priorities in the bipartisan package, including:

· Strong climate change measures, including funding for coastal resiliency grants to support communities on the Seacoast;

· Investments in cybersecurity to help combat the increase in ransomware attacks and other cyber threats;

· Ensuring that federal dollars for passenger rail programs could help support critical investments such as connecting New Hampshire communities to Boston; and

· Funding broadband investments to help ensure that all Granite State families can access – and afford – fast, reliable internet connections.

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U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement after voting in favor of a procedural motion that will allow debate on the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which she’s helped negotiate over the last few months:

“This has been a long time in the making and I appreciate the continued good-faith negotiations from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to see this bipartisan infrastructure agreement through,” said Shaheen. “Late nights, early mornings and countless conversations about how to make best use of this historic opportunity to invest in our nation’s infrastructure led us to where we are today and I’m looking forward to getting this legislation over the finish line. This bill will make overdue repairs to our roads, rails, bridges and waterways and create good-paying jobs without raising taxes. Part of what I’m most proud of, provisions I negotiated, will build out our broadband network to help put every community on the grid and will address our dilapidated water infrastructure so no parent worries about the safety of their children’s water when they turn on the tap. This legislation does not include everything I wanted because that’s what compromise means – you give and you get. And New Hampshire is going to get a lot out of this investment. I’ll continue to find ways to advance those other priorities in Congress, while also building on the bipartisan progress made today so we can deliver this historic legislation to the President’s desk as swiftly as possible.”