LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Mark E. Huizenga on Thursday voted for legislation to invest $4.8 billion in making critical improvements to the state’s water, transportation, broadband and parks infrastructure.
“This funding agreement represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to for us to make game-changing improvements to our state and our communities that will benefit Michigan families for decades,” said Huizenga, R-Walker. “Instead of using our one-time federal funds to make unnecessary and unsustainable increases in government, we’re focusing on positive investments to enhance people’s lives — like dedicating $60 million to help reduce PFAS and other contaminants from our drinking water.
“We’re also making historic investments to improve our aging water and wastewater infrastructure, fix our roads and bridges, replace lead pipes, support more affordable housing, increase access to high-speed internet, and make vital upgrades to our parks and trails — including $55 million for the Grand River Greenway from Grand Rapids to Grand Haven.”
Senate Bill 565 would use $4.1 billion in federal funding and $571 million in state resources to make important infrastructure investments across the state, including over $1.7 billion to help communities improve their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure — with at least 25% of drinking water funds dedicated to replacing lead pipes.
The bill features nearly $317 million in federal funding to fixing aging roads and bridges, $250 million to help improve broadband connectivity to more households and small businesses, $250 million to rebuild dams destroyed or damaged in 2020 and prioritize risk reduction projects at other dams in the state, over $322 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds for small local governments, $504 million in federal rental and mortgage assistance funding for those experiencing a pandemic financial hardship, and $250 million to make infrastructure upgrades at state parks.
“Our state parks offer excellent recreational opportunities for Michigan families, and they also attract tourists to our state and make Michigan more competitive for new talent and jobs,” Huizenga said.
SB 565 also designates $50 million to help install filtered water stations in schools, $35 million to fix failing septic systems and $92.8 million for airport infrastructure projects.
House Bill 5525 features $140 million to improve service at the Unemployment Insurance Agency to help Michigan workers who lost their jobs.
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