After weeks of gridlock and political posturing, the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill the Senate passed on a bipartisan basis earlier this year.
Thirteen Republican representatives crossed over and voted with the Democrats to pass the sweeping legislation, but there weren’t any Oklahoma House members - all Republicans - among them. Stephanie Bice, Markwayne Mullin, Kevin Hern, Frank Lucas and Tom Cole all voted ‘no.’
Despite all of Oklahoma's House members voting against the bill, the state will receive more than $5 billion for roads, bridges, electric vehicle charging stations and rural broadband internet expansion, among other things.
According to White House estimates, $4.3 billion will be distributed to the state over five years for highway repairs and construction. Three hundred fifty-four million dollars will go toward public transportation.
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt praised the infrastructure package. Holt says it will boost public transit in his city and provide the possibility for rail service between OKC and Kansas.
In addition, $66 million will go to bolster Oklahoma’s electric vehicle charging network and $100 million to expand broadband internet to rural areas.
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