Las Vegas Sun: “Bipartisan infrastructure bill’s passage is a victory for Nevadans”

Nevada Labor Leaders: Laxalt a direct “threat to Nevada jobs.”

With the passage of his historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, Nevada Democrats are creating thousands of new jobs, and the Las Vegas Sun is calling it a “victory for Nevadans.”

But if Adam Laxalt had his way, Nevadans would never see these new jobs, and would lose out on critical funding to combat wildfires and deliver clean drinking water to Nevadans. Instead, Laxalt has focused his campaign around killing the infrastructure package, even after 19 Senate Republicans voted for it, which is why labor leaders across the state have called him a direct “threat to Nevada jobs.”

As Laxalt campaigns against jobs for Nevada working families, here’s what Nevadans are reading on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a gamechanger for Nevada:

Las Vegas Sun: “Bipartisan infrastructure bill’s passage is a victory for Nevadans”

Editorial // 11.10.21

There’s a lot for Nevadans to like in the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act […] The state will receive at least $4 billion in targeted funding in the package, and can compete for billions more in federal grants over the five-year duration of the legislation, to address an array of needs such as rebuilding roads and bridges, boosting rangeland firefighting forces, curbing global warming, improving public transportation and much more. Among the elements that will directly benefit the state:

• $2.5 billion for highway repairs and $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs over the five years of the legislation. According to the White House, this funding will help the state repair 28 bridges and more than 1,000 miles of highway that have been deemed in poor condition, causing commute times to increase nearly 8% in the past 10 years.

• $459 million to improve public transportation. This opens the door to some exciting possibilities, especially in Southern Nevada, where an expanded and modernized public transportation system that includes light rail is an essential need.

• A minimum of $100 million to improve broadband internet coverage across the state, which will be geared toward aiding the 125,000 Nevadans who lack high-speed connectivity but also includes federal subsidies to help low-income families afford internet access.

• $38 million to expand the electric-vehicle charging network, along with an opportunity to apply for $2.5 billion in grant funding to build even more charging stations.

• A competitive grant program offering $450 million for large-scale water recycling projects, such as one proposed through a partnership between the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California that would benefit the entire region by significantly reducing demand from Southern California on water from the Colorado River. In total, the bill provides $8.3 billion for Western water infrastructure and drought resilience over five years.

• At least $8.6 million over five years to protect against wildfires and $12 million to protect against cyberattacks.

• $293 million over five years for infrastructure development at McCarran International Airport and other airports throughout the state.

Nevada also will benefit from funding that is aimed at other states but will have regional impact on our water shortage, our climate and our infrastructure. That includes $3.4 billion in wildfire prevention, which was secured by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and will be of particular help in Western states where climate change has caused fires to grow in scale and intensity.

[…]

As for Cortez Masto, Rosen, Titus, Lee and Horsford, they did the right thing for residents statewide. Thanks to their votes, Nevada will be better armed in our efforts to rebuild and modernize our infrastructure, protect our water supply, curb global warming and pave the way for continued growth and vitality.

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