Sec. 4-5. Findings.

201 words·~1 min read·/il/chapter-220/act-81/4-5

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Sec. 4-5. Findings. The General Assembly finds:

(1)that on November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed

into law by President Biden, which provides for historic levels of investment in the nation's infrastructure;

(2)that the United States government has made available $550,000,000,000 for new

infrastructure investment for state and local governments through the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act;

(3)that it is essential that this State not lose out on funding made available through

the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act;

(4)that investments in this State's bridges, roads, highways, rail system, high-speed

internet, and electricity are essential to the public safety, economic viability, and equity of all citizens in every part of this State;

(5)that an important component of infrastructure in the 21st century is access to

affordable, reliable, high-speed internet;

(6)that the persistent digital divide in this State is a barrier to the economic

competitiveness in the economic distribution of essential public services, including health care and education; and

(7)that the digital divide disproportionately affects communities of color,

lower-income areas, and rural areas, and the benefits of broadband should be broadly enjoyed by all citizens of this State.