Infrastructure law delivering for Washington

On the 2nd anniversary of the landmark infrastructure bill, Washington state celebrates billions of dollars in job-creating investments.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 15, 2023) — Today marked the second anniversary of the landmark Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This $1.2 trillion investment in America’s infrastructure after decades of decline is rebuilding the country and creating good jobs now and into the future.

Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, construction employment is at an all-time high—670,000 jobs have been added in the construction sector since President Biden took office—and the two-year increase in state and local capital investment as a share of GDP is the largest since 1979.

President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Nov. 15, 2021.

To date, $7.9 billion in funding from the law has been announced for Washington state, with more than 465 specific projects identified for funding. That includes approximately $5.3 billion for transportation investments in roads, bridges, public transit, ports, and airports—and roughly $366 million for clean water and water infrastructure. Washington state also received $1.2 billion to expand reliable high-speed internet and, as of today, more than 320,000 households in Washington are saving on their monthly internet bill thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“Washington state has benefited enormously since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed two years ago–we’re talking about nearly $8 billion in funding to expand high-speed internet, clean water, and public transit, and massively upgrade the basic infrastructure that enables people to get where they need to go and keeps our economy humming, and so much more,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). “This was an incredibly consequential piece of legislation that has brought real improvements home to every corner of Washington state—and I’m proud to have helped pass it into law with a razor-thin Democratic majority in President Biden’s very first year in office.”

Many more projects will be added in Washington state in the coming months. Additionally, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided $1 billion nationally for culvert removal, replacement, and restoration; $172 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund; and $207 million for the Coastal Zone Management Program, among other salmon habitat investments.

When the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law on Nov. 15, 2021, no one had a better seat to watch the historic bill signing than Heather Kurtenbach of Iron Workers Local 86 in Seattle. She was given the honor of introducing President Biden at the event on the White House lawn.

“I’m proud to stand here today and represent the most diverse labor movement in history,” Kurtenbach said before introducing the president. “Nearly half of my local’s apprentices are women or people of color. And this law empowers unions to keep building the middle class — leaving no one behind.”

Many members of Congress refer to the legislation as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law because one-third of Republicans in the Senate joined all Democrats in supporting its passage. But in the House, just 13 of 228 Republicans joined Democrats in voting “yes” in the bill’s 228-206 passage. Washington Republican Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dan Newhouse, and former Rep. Jaime Hererra Beutler, all voted “no.” In doing so, they sided with Donald Trump who decried the infrastructure investment that eluded his one-term presidency because it could help Democrats politically. All Washington Democrats voted “yes” on the infrastructure bill.

“Two years ago, President Biden and Congress made the largest investment in America’s infrastructure since the interstate highway system,” said U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA, 1st). “In the years since, the law has continued to drive Washington forward, delivering nearly $8 billion to rebuild, restore, and strengthen our infrastructure. These investments are making tangible improvements in our communities by addressing critical road and bridge repairs, expanding affordable broadband across our state, and creating good-paying jobs. Moving forward, the law will continue to deliver long-term investments that will make our communities safer, healthier, better connected, and more accessible.”

To date in Washington state, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has awarded:

• Over $1.2 billion to expand broadband access to more than 320,000 homes in Washington state. Overall, it provided $65 billion to help families across the country access reliable high-speed internet;
• $3.6 billion for 423 bridges and 5,547 miles of highway, and other roadway safety projects. This includes nearly $227 million in RAISE grants;
• $2.8 million from the Clean School Bus Program, and an additional $65 million for clean transit buses through the Low- and No- Emission Bus Facilities Program;
• $366 million for projects providing clean and safe water across the state and improving water infrastructure. This includes $92 million for lead pipe and service line replacement, with another $88.4 million for safe drinking water investments that can also support lead pipe replacement;
• Nearly $41 million to build out electric vehicle chargers across Washington state;
• Over $753 million to improve public transportation options across Washington state;
• $332 million for Washington state clean energy, energy efficiency, and power projects;
• Over $224 million to improve Washington state’s airports;
• Over $219 million to repair Washington state’s ports and waterways. This includes $71.5 million for five port projects through the Port Infrastructure Development Program;
• Nearly $467 million for investments into climate-resilient infrastructure for communities across Washington state. This funding will bolster resilience against the impacts of climate change, extreme weather events, and hazards like cyberattacks;
• Over $9 million for legacy pollution cleanups in Washington state. These sites pose harms to health, welfare, and economic prosperity—and disproportionately impact communities of color: 26% of Black Americans and 29% of Hispanic Americans live within three miles of a Superfund site, a higher percentage than for Americans overall;
• Millions for salmon recovery, culvert removal and replacement, fish passage restoration, and more.

To date nationwide, the Biden Administration has announced nearly $400 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, including more than 40,000 specific projects and awards, across over 4,500 communities in all 50 states, D.C., Tribes, and territories.

This White House fact sheet explains how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is delivering for Washington state.