Three Years Since Senate Passage, Tester’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Continues to Deliver for Montanans

Senator has secured key investments for Montana’s roads and bridges, airports, water infrastructure, high-speed internet connectivity, energy resiliency, public transit, and disaster relief

In the three years since the Senate passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – a bill that U.S. Senator Jon Tester negotiated and shepherded into law with five Republicans and four Democrats – Tester has secured key investments from the legislation that have lowered costs, created jobs, and improved critical infrastructure across Montana. August 10^th, 2024 marked the third anniversary of the bill’s passage in the Senate.  

Tester was the only member of Montana’s congressional delegation to support the legislation.

“Montana is a big state that can do big things – but not without top-notch infrastructure to keep Montanans connected, safe, and able to support their families and run their businesses,” said Tester. “I wrote the bipartisan infrastructure law with my colleagues to lower costs, create jobs, and bring rural America into the 21^st century. Three years later, I’m proud to see it’s doing just that. Whether it’s getting rural communities hooked up to high-speed internet, expanding our airports, building roads and bridges, or strengthening our power grid, this bill continues to deliver for Montanans, and I’ll keep working to ensure these lifechanging projects get done right.” 

Since 2021, some of the key investments Tester has delivered for Montana include:

Lowering Energy Costs and Expanding High-Speed Internet Connectivity

• $700 million for the North Plains Connector project
• More than $750 million to expand high-speed internet connectivity to underserved areas

Roads and Bridges

• Nearly $98.4 million for 1-90 repair & rehabilitation
• Nearly $78.9 million for US 93 reconstruction
• $24 million for highway 200 improvements
• $19.3 million for Mill Creek Highway upgrades
• Nearly $16.3 million for Yellowstone National Park Road repairs

Clean Drinking Water and Water Infrastructure

• $100 million for St. Mary Diversion Dam replacement
• More than $182 million for clean drinking water and rural water systems
• $3.4 million for high hazard potential dams

Airports

• Nearly $19 million for Glacier Park International Airport
• Nearly $27.3 million for Missoula Montana Airport
• More than $2.4 million for Bert Mooney Airport
• More than $2.8 million for Billings-Logan Airport
• More than $10 million for Yellowstone Airport

Public Transit and Rail 

• $14.9 million for Empire Builder rail infrastructure
• $500,000 for the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority
• More than $29 million for the Mountain Line Bus System

Disaster Relief and Wildfire Mitigation

• $20 million for FEMA flood relief
• $40 million for energy grid protection against wildfires
• More than $29 million for Kootenai National Forest wildfire mitigation
• $780,000 for wildland firefighter support
• Nearly $50 million for climate resiliency projects

Tester’s significant wins for Montana in the IIJA include $2.82 billion for Montana’s roads, highways and bridges; $2.5 billion to complete all authorized Indian water rights settlements; $1 billion to complete all authorized rural water projects through the Bureau of Reclamation; $65 billion to deploy broadband to areas across the country that lack internet access and additionally make online connectivity affordable; and $3.37 billion to reduce wildfire risk nationwide, among others. Tester also worked to ensure that all iron, steel, and construction materials used for these projects must be made in America.

A full list of Montana provisions in Tester’s bipartisan infrastructure law can be found HERE.