Congressman Cleaver Announces $1.254 Billion in New Funding for Roads and Bridges Headed to Missouri Thanks to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
(Kansas City, MO)– Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced that Missouri will soon receive more than $1.254 billion in new federal funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding will go toward repairing and improving roads and bridges across the Show Me State, while also creating good-paying union jobs for Missouri workers. The $1.254 billion in funding is the fiscal year 2022 allocation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's five year investment in Missouri highways.
"Thanks to this historic investment from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're going to have the opportunity to make our roads safer, repair crumbling bridges, and modernize Missouri's highway system," said Congressman Cleaver. "Not only will these federal dollars help to cut down on commute times, save Missourians from spending their hard-earned paychecks on costly auto repairs, and keep drivers safe as they travel through our state—it's going to create countless good-paying jobs for Missouri workers. I hope our steelworkers, iron workers, cement masons, and the rest of Missouri Labor is ready to get to work because they're going to be in high demand as this federal funding makes its way to our state."
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, supported by Rep. Cleaver and signed into law by President Biden last month, will deliver nearly $7 billion to Missouri over the next five years to repair and replace roads and bridges across the state. The federal dollars will fund numerous highway programs, including:
- Surface Transportation Block Grant Program;
- Highway Safety Improvement Program;
- National Highway Freight Program;
- Carbon Reduction Program;
- National Highway Performance Program;
- Railway Highway Crossings Program;
- Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement Program;
- Metropolitan Planning Program; and
- PROTECT Formula Program.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, Missouri received a C- grade on its latest infrastructure report card, with more than 2,100 bridges and over 7,500 miles of highway in poor condition. Additionally, on average, commute times have increased by 5.9% in Missouri and Missouri drivers pay $743 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair. With this funding, Missouri will be able to repair old roads and bridges, construct new ones, and create good-paying union jobs while doing so.
"I was proud to vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law last month because I understand how transformative this funding will be for communities and families across the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri," said Congressman Cleaver. "It's going to create jobs, accelerate our economic recovery, and ensure Missouri has the critical infrastructure needed to compete throughout the 21stcentury. I couldn't be more excited for this federal funding to start rolling in, and I look forward to working with state and local leaders to ensure we maximize each and every dollar spent in a way that will benefit middle-class Missourians."
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.
