Tester Says Infrastructure Bill Helps State
An improvement in broadband service for the Big Sky state could be one benefit if the new infrastructure proposals become law. Last week, a bipartisan group came to an agreement with President Biden on a framework to improve the country’s infrastructure.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said during a conference call with state media members that the bill is one of the most important non-emergency bills in the nation’s history.
Montana was recently ranked last in the nation for high speed internet by High-SpeedInternet.com. Broadband is one of the areas that the bill will address.
“It is going to change the landscape. There’s no doubt about that,” Tester said. “I think it will put all states on even par.”
The $579 billion in new spending will include funds for transportation, non-transportation infrastructure, power, broadband and water projects.
“It will provide significant investments in Montana’s roads and bridges, our airports and our water infrastructure. It will also make badly needed investments in broadband, which is particularly important for folks in rural Montana who lag far behind the rest of the country when it comes to internet connectivity,” Tester said. “And most importantly it will help create good-paying jobs across our entire state.”
Tester noted that Democrats and Republicans involved put aside their differences to create the proposal.
“I was proud to help negotiate this agreement that will allow us to maintain our competitive edge over China in the 21st century — all without burdening working Montanans with any new taxes, including the gas tax,” Tester said. “For a country that has been living for years off of our parents’ and grandparents’ infrastructure, that is a big damn deal. My colleagues and I have been working overtime for weeks to hammer this agreement out. Negotiations like this are always difficult, and like with every good compromise neither side got everything they wanted.”
The senator added, “It’s going to be good for urban America but also for rural America. This truly is an once in a century investment in America’s infrastructure.”
