Oregon’s Democrats in Congress celebrate passage of historic act

Much of Oregon’s Congressional delegation sees nothing but good news for the state in the passage of the federal infrastructure legislation.

The U.S. House on Friday passed the $1.2 trillion package to fix roads, airports, railways and broadband across the country.

The state’s four Democrat representatives voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici in the 1st Congressional District; U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer in the 3rd Congressional District; U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio in the 4th Congressional District, and U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader in the 5th Congressional District.

Oregon’s lone Republican in Congress, U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz in the 2nd Congressional District, voted against the package and by Saturday night he was the only member of the Oregon’s Congressional delegation to stay publicly silent about the vote. His communications staff didn’t respond to telephone or email messages Saturday seeking comment about why he opposed legislation that likely will put millions of dollars into his district.

But political joy was the message of the day for the rest of the delegation, including Oregon’s two Democratic senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. They voted for the package when it passed the Senate in August.

They all highlighted billions destined for Oregon for roads, bridges, public transportation, airport improvements and millions set aside to bring broadband service to more than 100,000 Oregonians.

About half the spending is new, the other half previously budgeted amounts. The cost will be covered by diverting billions in funds never spent on pandemic programs, reinstating a Superfund tax on certain chemicals, and new regulation of cryptocurrency.

DeFazio, sponsor of the original legislation, said in a statement that it addresses “long overdue investments in our nation’s infrastructure.”

The package “will make badly-needed improvements to our rail systems, bridges and highways, transit, water, and broadband infrastructure, as well as our ports and airports—investments I have championed for years,” he said.

He said the package is a “down payment on addressing the climate crisis head on by reducing carbon pollution from the transportation sector, as well as upgrading our port infrastructure to help alleviate the current supply chain crisis.”

Bonamici said the package is “a significant commitment to reaching a more connected and resilient nation.”

“It will help Oregonians and families across the country by repairing and improving our roads and bridges, creating new jobs, expanding access to broadband, and so much more,” she said in a statement.

Blumenauer described the legislation as “an unprecedented investment.”

He took credit for authoring provisions “to help Oregon improve our public transit systems, enhance the safety of our streets, get lead pipes out of our schools, protect us from wildfires, and expand access to broadband ­– all while making polluters pay to clean up their toxic legacies.”

“We are proving that America can afford what our families need,” he said in a statement.

Schrader said the legislation provided “once-in-a-century investments.”