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Harder Renews Call for Central Valley Jobs & Water Focused Infrastructure Package

April 12, 2021

WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) renewed his call for a federal infrastructure package focused on Central Valley job creation and water infrastructure. This morning, the Biden administration released a new California specific fact sheet detailing the dire need for infrastructure investments in the state. In response to this new fact sheet and in advance of Congress' return to session, Rep. Harder released the following statement:

"I'm heading back to Washington today focused on one thing: delivering the resources our Valley needs" said Rep. Harder. "We have 119 structurally deficient bridges in our community, one so broken that school buses aren't allowed to drive over it. Our roads have been rated poor and very poor for years and our cities report tens of millions of dollars in projects that they just can't fund. In the wealthiest country on Earth, we should be investing in our communities and creating jobs for the future. That's what I'm on my way back to DC to do."

A few highlights from the California fact sheet:

  • In California, there are 1,536 bridges and over 14,220 miles of highway in poor condition. Since 2011, commute times have increased by 14.6% and on average, each driver pays $799 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair.
  • From 2010 to 2020, California experienced 16 extreme weather events, costing the state tens of billions in damages.
  • Over the next 20 years, California's drinking water infrastructure will require $51 billion in additional funding.
  • 5.5% of Californians live in areas where, by one definition, there is no broadband infrastructure that provides minimally acceptable speeds. 59.2% of Californians live in areas where there is only one such internet provider.

Read the full fact sheet here.

Issues:Water