Press Releases

Congresswoman Gwen Moore Secures Provisions to Expand Economic Opportunity and Green Public Transit in Infrastructure Package

Today, Congresswoman Moore voted in support of the INVEST in America Act, which includes several of her amendments. She released the following statement:

“We need to make sure equity guides every transportation policy, so that no community gets left behind. The INVEST Act secures the resources we need to improve our nation’s road, bridges,  public transit and rail networks. 

Among numerous provisions I support, the bill provides robust funding for public transit, including to improve service and reduce fare by addressing transit deserts and providing for a demonstration program to reduce fares in some communities.  The bill also includes provisions to help make our streets safer for all users including pedestrians and those with disabilities, helps support funding to address climate change and resiliency including significant funding for zero emission buses, and authorizes increased funding for Amtrak.  

Additionally,  I strongly support provisions of this bill which provide additional resources for communities of color, including for those who bear the brunt of climate change. For example, the bill also creates a new reconnecting neighborhoods discretionary grant program to help reconnect neighborhoods, often in economically-disadvantaged and underserved communities, that were cut off by highway or other projects in the past. 

The bill also authorizes funding to keep protect water quality and help address threats to drinking water, including strong reauthorizations of the Clean Water and Drinking Water Sate Revolving Funds.  

The bill would also authorize $45 billion over the next ten years to remove lead pipes. I want to remove every lead pipe in Milwaukee in order to help protect our children. .  During debate on the bill in the House, I offered an amendment to ensure that these lead pipe replacement grants help create jobs for individuals in the communities in which they take place. Milwaukee residents could greatly benefit from this program that not only removes a public health threat but creates pathways for good paying jobs for low-income and very-low income individuals. 

I also offered an amendment during floor debate that would increase the amount of funding for zero emission buses that is set aside for low- and moderate-income communities which are often most impacted by air pollution.    

Increasing green public transit can help reduce emissions while increasing access to jobs, child care, education, and doctor’s appointments on the other side of town  to the most vulnerable. 

Another of my amendments to this bill would create a stormwater center of Excellence program at the EPA to help support research and innovation to address with some of the challenges to our nation’s water quality, including sewer overflows.  

My amendments were adopted and I was pleased to support passage of this critical legislation.”

In addition, the Invest in America Act also includes funding for project requests made by Congresswoman Moore for seven projects that will benefit the residents of Milwaukee. The list of those projects can be found here.