Congress is divided, but this bipartisan issue can unite lawmakers — and Tacoma | Opinion
We face another divided Congress, with Democrats holding a narrow majority in the U.S. Senate and Republicans holding a slim majority in the House. Will the 118th Congress move legislation or be mired in gridlock? I remain optimistic that modest productivity can prevail — in part, because of the widespread popularity of bipartisan issues like infrastructure.
Americans are very invested in recently passed recovery policies — and they want to reap the benefits of these laws, including the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This past November, on both sides of the aisle, Americans voted back into office supporters of the bipartisan infrastructure law — including U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Representative Derek Kilmer and Representative Marilyn Strickland — renewing their commitment to policies and policymakers that solve infrastructure challenges and create jobs.
Infrastructure remains a top priority on legislative agendas everywhere as all cities, regardless of demographics or political leanings, seek infrastructure upgrades. And ARPA provides the opportunity for cities to compete directly for federal funds to address a wide range of needs stemming from the pandemic.
This opportunity to direct funding to smaller jurisdictions through ARPA is incredibly impactful for residents. Major metropolitan cities and smaller towns often share the same infrastructure — like a road that may run from one city into another. It is just as important for sections of road in that small town to be safe and restored for those residents as it is for roads in major cities. Tacoma especially benefits from the use of ARPA funds, such as a recent investment of $300,000 into affordable housing utility infrastructure. This project helped reduce the cost of developing affordable housing by providing some of the necessary roadway investments surrounding affordable housing projects.
I am happy to report that in the recent $1.7 trillion spending bill for the 2023 budget year, the federal government broadened spending authority for state and local governments to use billions in federal COVID relief dollars on critical infrastructure not directly related to the pandemic. These new eligibilities are welcome additions to help meet Tacoma’s needs, and will help local governments throughout the U.S. meet approaching obligation and expenditure deadlines.
At the local level, we’re doing our part to meet the infrastructure needs of our communities, which includes making the most of federal funding opportunities. To support this effort, the National League of Cities (NLC), the organization I lead as president, is helping ensure small and mid-size cities are able to effectively compete for federal dollars. Unlike large cities that have big staffs and grant-writing experts, many smaller cities and towns lack the in-house expertise to go after critical federal funding.
With this in mind, NLC in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and an array of other funders and partner organizations recently launched the Local Infrastructure Hub. One of the Hub’s key offerings is a series of “bootcamp” courses designed to connect small cities and towns with the resources and expert advice needed to access federal infrastructure funding. More than 150 cities have already participated in 2022, and we anticipate thousands more joining.
Local leaders know the needs of their communities best, and having the dollars to finally address some of our most critical infrastructure needs is going to pay dividends for decades to come.
As newly elected federal officials settle into their roles, they must advance the priorities of their constituents.
Across parties and the country, it is clear that infrastructure is a top issue for voters, and the bipartisan cooperation that created the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act should serve as an example of what is possible when care for constituents takes precedence over partisanship.
Victoria Woodards serves as president of the National League of Cities and has served as mayor of Tacoma since 2018.