WHEREAS, On November 15th , 2021, President Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, authorizing the new investment of $550 billion towards infrastructure needs across the United States; and
WHEREAS, Over the next five years the federal government will lead this historic investment in our roads and bridges, rail, transit, ports, airports, electrical grids, water systems, and broadband networks; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania may receive nearly $18 billion through funding formulas based on need and population, an additional $31 billion will be made available through competitive grants and at the discretion of federal agencies; and
WHEREAS, There is no shortage of infrastructure needs in the City of Philadelphia. Among the needs to be considered are aging School District facilities, deteriorating streets, a regional transportation authority hit hard by the pandemic, a historic port handling record shipping activity, and century old gas and water infrastructure; and
WHEREAS,
Through the determined efforts of Congressman Dwight E. Evans of Pennsylvania’s Third Congressional District and his colleagues, Congressman Brendan Boyle representing the Second Congressional District, and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon representing the Fifth Congressional District, the Infrastructure and Jobs Act creates opportunities to address past transportation infrastructure investments that have divided communities through the Reconnecting Communities Initiative; and
WHEREAS, Infrastructure investment and capital spending by the City of Philadelphia must be incorporated into the Six-Year Capital Program and Budget brought to a vote annually before City Council; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby authorizes City Council’s Committee on Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation to hold public hearings to discuss sources of funding, investment priorities, and capital budget planning in the City of Philadelphia related to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
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