In Missoula, Tester Talks Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Package with Missoula Business and Community Leaders

Once-in-a-century package will invest in bridges, roads, broadband, water projects, and create good-paying jobs

During a swing through Northwest Montana this week, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today met with Missoula small business and community leaders to provide an update on the historic bipartisan infrastructure package he negotiated with nine of his Senate colleagues and President Joe Biden.

Tester was joined by Deb Poteet of Poteet Construction, Missoula City Council Member Jordan Hess, and Acting Missoula International Airport Director Brian Ellestad in Caras Park to discuss how the framework will provide badly-needed infrastructure investments in Montana’s roads and bridges, broadband, airports, and water infrastructure, and boost Montana’s economy and create good-paying jobs.

“For 20 years we’ve been running a 21st century economy on infrastructure built by our parents and grandparents to the detriment of Montana workers, businesses, and communities-and it’s time Congress did something about it,” said Tester. “I am proud to have led negotiations with Republicans and Democrats on this package, which will provide significant, badly-needed investments in Montana’s roads and bridges, broadband, airports, water infrastructure, and allow us to maintain America’s competitive edge over China well into the future. That’s what Montanans expect from their elected leaders: that we work across the aisle to deliver real solutions that’ll have a positive impact on their lives, our economy, and our state.”

After a meeting at the White House with President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of 10 Senators, Tester announced the group struck a deal on a once-in-a-century infrastructure package that will make critical investments in Montana’s aging infrastructure. Over the last few weeks, Tester led the negotiations between Republicans, Democrats, and the Biden Administration that resulted in the agreement.

Now that the landmark bipartisan framework has been agreed to, Senator Tester will continue leading his colleagues as they negotiate the details of the package and work with relevant Senate committees to assemble the legislation. Once a bill has been formally drafted, it will be put on the floor for a vote, and congressional leaders have expressed hope that a Senate floor vote will take place before the August recess. After Senate passage, the legislation must be passed by the House before being signed into law by the President.