The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative has released a statement urging Congress to take immediate action on the Build Back Better reconciliation package.
According to The White House, the Build Back Better package aims to provide cleaner air and water by investing in a clean energy economy and climate smart practices across our lands and waters. The framework is a $555 billion investment.
“While the infrastructure bill will greatly help with lead line replacements for our most vulnerable citizens and provide billions of dollars for coastal resilience and water infrastructure projects that are desperately needed, there is more that can be achieved through the Build Back Better package,” said Mayor Billy McKinney of Zion, Illinois, who chairs the Cities Initiative’s Mayor's Commission on Water Equity in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.
The Build Back Better legislation provides funding for key priorities for Great Lakes cities including:
- $225 million to reduce rates for low-income water customers;
- $6 billion for coastal communities and climate resilience;
- $600 million to support flood mapping;
- $30 million for technical assistance for climate change planning, mitigation, adaptation and resilience;
- $9 billion for lead line remediation projects;
- $1.85 billion for sewer overflow and storm water reuse grants;
- $350 million to acquire a new Great Lakes icebreaker; and
- $600 million for port infrastructure and supply chain resilience.
“While the passage of the infrastructure deal is a once-in-a-generation investment that will create millions of jobs modernizing our infrastructure, turn the climate crisis into an opportunity, and put us on a path to win the economic competition for the 21st century, our work isn’t done,” said Mayor Tom Barrett of Milwaukee in the press release. “We must pass the President’s Build Back Better framework.”
“We need this bill to fight climate change and prepare our cities for continued shoreline erosion and coastal flooding,” said Mayor Ryan Sorenson of Sheboygan, Wisconsin in the press release. “The bill will also help us advance water equity for all of our citizens by addressing the cost of water, removing lead water lines and rebuilding aging water infrastructure.”
