Texas received $13.9 billion from infrastructure bill so far, White House says

Texas has so far received $13.9 billion in funding from the $1.2 infrastructure bill Congress passed last year, the White House said Tuesday, as it seeks to promote efforts to improve the nation's roads, ports and other infrastructure. The announcement comes a week after a midterm election in which President Joe Biden's Democratic party outperformed forecasts, holding control of the Senate and limiting Republicans gains in the House - where votes are still being counted in several states. "This law is laying the foundation not only for an infrastructure decade but a manufacturing decade in America by building a stronger backbone for American supply chains and American production," said Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council.

The $1.2 trillion in spending under the infrastructure bill drew criticism from many Republicans, including Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who broke with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to vote against the legislation. "It isn’t paid for, will add too much to the debt, and was rushed through the Senate in a week’s time without adequate debate or input,” he said last year. Among the funding slated to go to Texas is $10.8 billion for roads and bridges and $645 million for public transportation, along with $345 million for the state's airports. Also Texas has received $173 million to better weatherize the state's homes and $147 million for electric vehicle chargers. "The reality is we're just at the beginning," said Mitch Landrieu, senior advisor to the president. "This is the first year of a five to seven year rebuild."