Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Jobs, Water and Justice

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) represents a once-in-a-generation investment in America’s infrastructure.

Passed by Congress in 2021, the IIJA will invest $1.2 trillion to overhaul our crumbling transportation and water infrastructure, and remediate toxic pollution that endangers our health.

In total, the IIJA will invest $7.5 billion in a nation-wide electric vehicle charging network, $55 billion to replace lead service lines and expand access to clean drinking water, and $21 billion for contaminated site clean up, among many other priorities.

These investments will not only expand access to clean drinking water but will invest in communities that need it most while creating good-paying union jobs in Michigan and across the country.

How the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Benefits Michigan

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s $1.2 trillion is being allocated to states across the country, and Michigan is set to receive billions of dollars in federal funding over the next ten years. With these funds, we can make meaningful investments in Michigan’s outdated infrastructure that will create healthier, more vibrant communities across our state.

Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Michigan will receive $1.3 billion over the next five years to overhaul water infrastructure across, specifically the replacement of lead service lines to ensure access to clean, safe drinking water in every Michigan community – a fundamental human right.

Additionally, $100 million of the funding will go towards rebuilding stormwater and transportation infrastructure, building resilience against accelerating climate impacts.

To capitalize on this opportunity, we must invest in expansive charging infrastructure and expand access to EVs in Michigan. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will see Michigan receive $110 million over the next five years to expand our EV charging network. Michigan will also be able to apply for an additional $2.5 billion in grant funding for EV charging. Some of these funds are already being put to good use.

In 2022, Michigan received $54 million in federal funding to invest in zero or low-emission electric school buses for school districts across the state. More than 90% of the funding will go to districts in low-income, rural and Indigenous communities, which experience disproportionate impacts of air pollution. The new school buses will provide a critical boost for school-related transportation while setting a new standard in the electrification revolution, protecting the health of our kids and helping combat the climate crisis.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will help accelerate the remediation of superfund and brownfield sites, cleaning up PFAS chemicals, orphaned wells, underground septic systems and more. Michigan will receive billions of dollars in federal grant funding for contaminated site remediation over the next five years, some of which is already being put to use. In 2022, Michigan received $25 million to address orphaned wells across the state. Additionally, Michigan was among 24 states to receive portions of $1 billion to address four identified superfund sites in Charlevoix, Mancelona Township, St. Clair Shores, and St. Louis, MI.

To learn more about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and how Michigan is set to benefit from federal investment, check out the White House Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act website, as well as this Michigan IIJA Fact Sheet.