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Last November, President Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law allocates $550 billion in new funds for transportation infrastructure projects, supply chain improvements, broadband expansion, and water system upgrades. This represents the most significant investment in American infrastructure since the Federal Aid Highway act in 1956.

American infrastructure has long been in decline. Decades of underinvestment led to a decline in the quality of roads, bridges, airports, and other types of hard infrastructure.

Both parties recognized that this trajectory was unsustainable, and the effort to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was genuinely bipartisan. Democrats and Republicans in Congress, along with the White House, worked together to pass this once-in-a-generation bill. I was proud to play a role in making this bill a reality along with my bipartisan colleagues in the Problem Solvers Caucus.   

The law benefits communities across the country. In Maine, it is projected to invest $1.3 billion in roads, $225 million for bridges, $390 million to remove dangerous lead pipes and mitigate PFAS contamination, and more than $100 million for affordable broadband. These investments are more than just dollar figures; they will lead to positive change and are critical for the state’s economy.

When I talk to small business owners in my district, the conversation often turns to infrastructure. They rely on our roads, bridges, and broadband to reach new customers and boost demand for their goods and services.

Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs tell me that the sad state of American infrastructure is hampering their ability to grow.

This law speaks to their concerns because it’s designed specifically to help small firms compete for contracts awarded with the funds it provides. Small construction firms and other types of businesses will play a direct role in building and repairing infrastructure projects that this law funds.

But there are also many longer-term impacts for small employers that are important to highlight. 

There is an emphasis on funding for rural broadband networks to encourage more economic development and revitalization in rural areas. In my state, at least 47,000 people do not have access to a fixed high-speed Internet connection, a figure that likely understates the problem because of how the FCC currently measures broadband availability.

This lack of access to high-speed broadband has proven to be an economic drain on many communities, impacting individual success in education, wealth, and access to opportunities. By increasing access to reliable broadband, we can help close the digital divide and empower rural small businesses. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also helps ease the supply chain pressures that have caused delays, shortages, and higher prices for small firms. By improving the poor condition of our roads, bridges, rail, and ports, we can help ensure that goods arrive on time. Investing in domestic manufacturing is another critical approach that can minimize delays and make our supply chain more resilient in the face of global crises.

The bill also dedicates funding to workforce development and will invest in programs to ensure small firms have access to a labor force that’s appropriately skilled for the 21st century.

It’s critical that we fully understand how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help our nation’s entrepreneurial community. So today, I look forward to hearing from our panel about all the ways that small firms can utilize the available infrastructure funds to grow their business.