While President Trump appeared to backtrack on a $2 trillion infrastructure agreement with Democrats, Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) spent last week advocating for better sewer services and broadband connections on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Luria pushed for the infrastructure improvements during her testimony before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
She said expanding rural broadband should be a priority for the committee, which puts her in line with a fellow Virginia Democrat, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who has also made rural broadband a priority.
Luria said access to high-speed internet is “essential to participating in the modern economy. Reliable, fast internet access can connect people to other communities, health providers, jobs, and even allow them to start their own businesses.”
Luria estimated the cost of expanding broadband to Virginia’s Eastern Shore at $30 million, and said expanding and modernizing sewer services on the Eastern Shore would be integral to future economic development and improve the health of the community.
Whether or not Congress funds any infrastructure proposal depends on whether President Trump can get fellow Republicans and members of his own administration on board.
Most Republicans have balked at the cost of the initiative, and the President’s Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnnell (R-Ky) oppose the effort.
If the last few day are any indication, the outlook doesn’t look good. Faced with overwhelming opposition from within his own party as well as outside conservative activists and special interests, Trump has done little to follow-up on the initial agreement.
Politics
How to apply for a job in the American Climate Corps
The Biden administration announced its plans to expand its New Deal-style American Climate Corps (ACC) green jobs training program last week. ...
Birth control protections await action by Youngkin
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has until May 17 to block or sign into law stronger legal protections for people to access contraception The fate of...
Local News
The zodiac signs of 12 iconic women offer insight into their historic accomplishments
Zodiac signs can tell you a lot about someone’s personality. Whether they’re an earth, water, air, or fire sign, these 12 categories (which are...
Virginia verses: Celebrating 5 poetic icons for National Poetry Month
There’s no shortage of great writers when it comes to our commonwealth. From the haunting verses of Edgar Allan Poe, who found solace in Richmond's...