The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. Rep. Bourdeaux touts bill to redirect COVID-19 aid
It would let unused funds go to disaster, infrastructure plans.
With President Joe Biden’s long-awaited bipartisan infrastructure deal now passed, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux, D-suwanee, held a news conference Tuesday in Sugar Hill to promote legislation that she has co-sponsored to reallocate unused COVID-19 funds for disaster and infrastructure projects.
The State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act has been co-sponsored by 82 bipartisan representatives, including three other Georgia lawmakers: Reps. Rick Allen, R-evans; Sanford Bishop, D-albany; and Hank Johnson, D-lithonia.
Bourdeaux was one of the original 31 co-sponsors when the bill was introduced by Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D.
This proposal, which passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in late October, would allow 100% of local infrastructure project costs to be covered by COVID-19 funds.
Around $3.5 billion in American Rescue Plan funds would be eligible for more flexible use under the legislation if passed by the House, Bourdeaux said.
The American Rescue Plan Act was passed to help local governments navigate COVID-19 difficulties, from paying police overtime to funding vaccination clinics. With unused funds still on hand for state, local and tribal governments, Bourdeaux said the new legislation is meant to allow these governments to focus on other priorities.
“We just hit a point though where it’s time to start looking toward the future,” Bourdeaux said. “There’s some of that money left over, and let’s put it to good use helping to build our community and making things strong in the future.”
Several Gwinnett politicians spoke at the news conference about the impact the legislation would have.
“It’s important to Gwinnett County, as well as all its cities, in terms of providing much more flexibility in addressing the real needs that we have,” said Sugar Hill City Manager Paul Radford.
In Sugar Hill, the bill would support initiatives such as constructing a pedestrian bridge over Ga. 20 to connect the northern and southern parts of the city, and expanding the stormwater infrastructure downtown. Radford noted that the bridge, specifically, would impact more than 10,000 residents.
“We want to be able to get [people] here and get them home without having to get in their car,” said Sugar Hill Assistant City Manager Troy Bessesche. “Cars will still be an integral part of what we do in our community, but this is our way of providing a long-term, stable community that can flourish and can be a good partner with our citizens and a good partner with our private sector.”
Though stormwater improvements and broadband expansion were already allowable uses for recovery act funds, Bourdeaux said the legislation would increase eligibility for 30% of funds or $10 million, whichever number is greater.
The change would permit local governments to “supercharge” local projects, as well as allow for greater block grant flexibility — efforts that would allow states to expand upon infrastructure funding from the bipartisan infrastructure deal.
Over the next five years, Georgia will receive $8.9 billion from the infrastructure deal, approximately $1.4 billion of which will go toward improving public transportation in the state. Funds will also address road improvements, “resiliency” funding addressing storm damage prevention, broadband access and electric grid fixes, among other items.
“With these dollars becoming available for the roads, stormwater and all the other things, it sort of makes it easier to plan for the future,” said Suwanee Mayor Jimmy Burnette, who elaborated on initiatives including expanding trails around the city.
Bordeaux, meanwhile, indicated that she hopes to see funding put toward more than physical structures in the Gwinnett area.
“I’d like to see it going into transit, not just roads and bridges, but also to help get around our community,” Bourdeaux said. “We need to really find a way to improve our mobility.”