March 03, 2022

Duckworth Discusses Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Benefits and Job Growth with Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council One Voice

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council’s One Voice delegation to discuss how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help improve water infrastructure, fix local roads and bridges and bring good-paying jobs to the region. Duckworth met with Normal Mayor Chris Koos, Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille, Central Illinois Regional Airport Executive Director Carl Olson, Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District Executive Director Timothy Ervin and other local leaders where they also discussed the importance the American Rescue Plan had on the region to help Central Illinois recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19.

“Day after day, we’re seeing the ways the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is already at work benefitting Illinoisans, supporting fixing bridges across the state, increasing electric vehicle charging networks and improving our state’s locks and dams,” Duckworth said. “Over the coming months and years Illinois will feel the impacts of this legislation through cleaner drinking water, shortened commute times and more good-paying jobs. It was great to discuss this with  Bloomington-Normal leaders today, and I look forward to continuing to support Central Illinois and see our local economies thrive.”

Duckworth was most recently in the Bloomington-Normal region in support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to highlight the legislation’s support for electric vehicle manufacturing and workforce development.

Last November, President Biden signed the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal into law that included several provisions led by Duckworth to help improve the lives of working Americans by making drinking water safer, reducing traffic congestion, allowing infrastructure projects to implement local hiring initiatives, protecting roadside responders and improving transit accessibility, among many other benefits for workers. The law will help Illinois and Illinois communities improve roads, bridges, highways, public transit, airports and more throughout the state to allow for more good-paying jobs, better accessibility and needed investments.

The Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council supports businesses in McLean County and helps grow local economies by attracting new business to the region. The Council also oversees the One Voice program, which unites leaders from the City of Bloomington, the Town of Normal, McLean County, labor and local organizations to promote community engagement and workforce development.

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