Senator Grassley outlines infrastructure and jobs bill impact on our region

During the Chamber’s most recent Legislative Event, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley outlined the many ways the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) will benefit and enrich our region going forward.

Grassley said while he was criticized by some in his party for his support of IIJA, the investment was much needed, long-awaited and often requested by residents, municipal governments and trade associations including those representing the trucking, agriculture and automobile industries. “I thank the Quad Cities Chamber for its support of the bill as well as most of the larger and smaller cities in Iowa which agreed it was very badly needed. I thank the Chambers across Iowa for helping to get the message out that it was the right thing to do, and it was,” Grassley said.

The IIJA will pay for upgrades and improvements to the lock and dam system on the Mississippi River inland waterway, providing Iowa with $400 million to address structurally deficient bridges and $4 million for its highways. “There is $65 million in this bill to expand broadband across the U.S., with priority given to underserved and unserved areas. While we don’t yet know how much of that will filter down to Iowa, being we are a rural state, it should be a big chunk,” Grassley said, adding it will benefit our region’s small businesses, employees who work from home and increase telehealth access.

The Senator is a long-time supporter of small businesses and said he and his staff are continually advocating for those who contact his office for help and invited businesses, veterans and residents to continue to do so.

Grassley is Iowa's longest-serving senator and held office since 1981. He is a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and serves on the Senate Finance Committee, Budget Committee, Agriculture Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation.

The Chamber thanks our Legislative Event Series annual sponsors: AM General, Arconic, Constellation, Iowa Solar and Stanley Consultants, and our event sponsor Rhythm City Casino Resort.