SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.2 trillion dollar infrastructure package Friday aimed at fixing roads, bridges and other systems across the country.
New Jersey will get more than $12 billion as part of that deal once it's signed by President Biden. New Jersey Rep. Donald Norcross spoke with KYW Newsradio about what it means for the Garden State.
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There are hundreds of bridges in New Jersey that are in serious need of repairs. Of course, the heavily traveled roads throughout the state could use some work as well.
"The civil engineers gave our area a D+ for the conditions of our infrastructure. My mom and dad wouldn't be happy with that grade and certainly we aren't," said Norcross.
$7.9 billion will go towards improving those roads and bridges. Norcoss said these projects will provide work for thousands of people.
"The best social program is a good job, and this is going to do that," he said. "Create a good job with good wages and benefits so that at the end of a lifetime, you can retire with dignity. I think that's incredibly important."
The package will allocate $4.1 billion toward improving mass transit in New Jersey and $1 billion to ensure safe drinking water. $727 million is designated for improving airport infrastructure.
The bill was a behemoth, both in cost and in size at almost 2,500 pages. Norcross discussed if there was anything that he didn't necessarily think should be included.
"There's legislation. With that goes compromise. There were priorities for New Jersey and Philadelphia region. We have a great working relationship with our colleagues on both sides of the river," he said.
There are also provisions to expand the state's electric vehicle charging network, at $104 million, and $100 million to expand broadband coverage to those who need it.
"Particularly in South Jersey," he said, "there are areas that still don't have high speed internet. That's a requirement for people to be part of America nowadays."
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Some of the smaller New Jersey items the legislation covers are $17 million to protect import systems from cyber attacks and $15 million to protect against wildfires.
All of New Jersey's members of Congress voted yes on the package. It was mostly a party line vote for the representatives from Pennsylvania, with only Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick breaking from Republicans to vote yes.