Finkenauer Introduces Bipartisan Fixing America’s Bridges Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (D-IA-01) and Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA-03) introduced the bipartisan Fixing America’s Bridges Act. The bill reestablishes a federal funding program to help repair and replace structurally deficient local bridges, many of which are owned by municipalities that have trouble affording necessary maintenance.

Iowa is home to more structurally deficient bridges than any other state with 5,067, which is nearly 20% of all Iowan bridges. Most of those are locally-owned and don’t receive the same federal funding that goes to bridges that are part of the federal highway system.

“Having visited many of our local structurally deficient bridges, I know first-hand how big of an impact we can make by securing much-needed help for our communities,” Congresswoman Finkenauer said. “Our local engineers and communities are sending us a clear message they need help, and we can do that while making our infrastructure safer and supporting good paying American jobs. I thank Congressman Higgins for partnering with me as we deliver critical aid to our communities that desperately need their bridges to be fixed.”

“Investing in safe and reliable infrastructure promotes economic growth and benefits our communities. This certainly includes America’s bridges,” said Congressman Higgins. “Our legislation expands federal infrastructure resources and prioritizes bridge replacement based on structural integrity. Reestablishing the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program would greatly benefit many bridges in Louisiana, including the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. I want to thank Congresswoman Finkenauer for leading this bipartisan effort.”

The Fixing America’s Bridges Act would reestablish the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program. The program would award federal grant money to states to repair or replace bridges that are found to be in “poor condition” by the Federal Highway Administration. The bill includes a set-aside to ensure communities get funding for their locally-owned bridges that are off the federal-aid highway system; it would also increase the federal cost-share for local bridges from 80% to 90% so communities can act quickly to make much-needed repairs to their structurally deficient bridges.

The Fixing America’s Bridges Act is supported by the National Association of Counties, National Association of County Engineers, North America’s Building Trades Unions, and Soy Transportation Coalition.

 

Support for the Fixing America’s Bridges Act:

 

“Here in Buchanan County, we have over a dozen bridges that we need to repair or replace—but money is tight, and we can’t afford to complete all of these critical projects without federal support,” said Buchanan County Engineer Brian Keierleber. “I appreciate Congresswoman Finkenauer’s work to help Iowa’s rural communities get federal funding to fix our structurally deficient bridges, and I look forward to continuing to work with her to ensure everyone in our county can get around safely.”

“When Congresswoman Finkenauer came to Waterloo in March, we walked across the Park Avenue and 11th Street bridges, both of which are embargoed for weight and desperately need to be replaced,” said Waterloo City Engineer Jamie Knutson. “The Fixing America’s Bridges Act will help cities like Waterloo get federal funding to repair and replace our local bridges, and I applaud the Congresswoman’s efforts to help our city make these critical investments.”

“I am in full support of federal funding to assist communities in bridge rehabilitation or replacement,” said Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart. “Waterloo has many bridges in and around the city that were built long ago and are in need of repair or replacement. There are a couple of bridges locally that are ranked in the top 100 worst bridges in the state. Without federal support these changes will not be realized in our local communities. Our citizens rely on these bridges to live their daily lives.”

“As Iowa’s second largest city and one of the driving economic engines of the state, it is critical that we maintain our existing infrastructure. The Fixing America’s Bridges Act would provide critical investment for repairing and replacing a transportation network relied upon by thousands,” said Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart. “We strongly support Congresswoman Finkenauer’s bill, which will improve the safety of our bridges and provide funding for the replacement, rehabilitation, and maintenance of these critical transportation networks.”

"Counties maintain nearly 40% of the nation’s bridge inventory, and the nation’s County Engineers are tasked with ensuring the safety of this vital transportation infrastructure every day," said National Association of County Engineers Executive Director Kevan Stone. “Millions of Americans depend on bridges to bring them to work and school each day while also bringing goods to market, and Congresswoman Finkenauer and Congressman Higgins realize the challenges and costs faced to maintain them. We commend their efforts to bring additional resources to keep them in a state of good repair through the reinstatement of the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program.”

“Counties own and operate four out of every 10 bridges, connecting people and places and helping communities across America thrive,” said National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase. “To address the bridge maintenance backlog, we need reliable federal and state partners. Increasing investments in locally owned bridges and reducing the local match requirement will give counties additional resources to strengthen our nation’s transportation network. We thank Representatives Finkenauer and Higgins for their efforts to address this important infrastructure issue.”

 “The temptation is for our nation to concentrate attention and resources toward the transportation needs of urban America at the expense of the needs of rural America. We must be attentive to both,” said Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition. “We commend Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer and Congressman Clay Higgins for introducing bipartisan legislation that will provide tangible benefit to our nation’s farmers and other rural residents who depend upon a safe, reliable, and accessible transportation system.”