Indiana Chamber applauds passage of Historic Infrastructure Package, says it will better lives of Hoosiers

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and delayed consideration of the multi-trillion-dollar reconciliation bill. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce applauds the bipartisan action to pass the long-sought infrastructure reform and continues to oppose the partisan reconciliation measure.

Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar on the efforts:

“We are pleased the historic infrastructure bill has passed. It’s the type of long-term, needed commitment to improve the state and nation’s infrastructure system that we’ve sought for more than a decade. In fact, it’s the largest investment ever in bridges – many of which have been dangerously deteriorating for years – since the interstate highway system was constructed.

“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has many other welcome components that will better the lives of Hoosiers. It will help connect more to broadband, provide clean drinking water for families, upgrade our energy grid and create jobs.

“All of these positives in the bill outweighed our concern of adding to the national debt. We simply couldn’t let our infrastructure further deteriorate and burden business and citizens alike. We thank Indiana Congressmen André Carson and Frank Mrvan for voting for the bill and Congressman Carson for his work on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

“The Indiana Chamber will continue to voice its strong opposition to the reconciliation bill, which we deem as unnecessary and reckless. One example that could be potentially devastating is the bill substantially increases the penalty of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate violation from $14,000 to a whopping $70,000. It’s anti-business, anti-workforce and anti-American.”

The Indiana Chamber partners with 25,000 members and investors – representing over four million Hoosiers – to achieve the mission of “cultivating a world-class environment which provides economic opportunity and prosperity.