Indiana agriculture will benefit from bipartisan infrastructure law

Since being sworn in to Congress earlier this year, it has been a wonderful experience to gain a greater appreciation of the importance of agriculture production in Northwest Indiana and across our state. I have enjoyed spending time with farmers and seeing first-hand how essential it is to have sound transportation networks for the agriculture industry.

There were a great number of reasons that I voted recently for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. For example, I believe that it will create new immediate projects for our manufacturing and construction workforce and lay the foundation for new businesses, both large and small, and entrepreneurs to choose to invest and relocate to our state. Additionally, this law will provide critical improvements to improve the flow of goods through our transportation corridors and address supply chain backlogs, which will help alleviate the pressing challenges of the increase in prices in our economy.

I also am pleased that these transformational investments in our infrastructure are also strategically targeted to benefit the agricultural communities in Indiana and throughout our nation. Specifically, the law includes historic investments to improve our roads and bridges, including a new fund for rural areas to help increase connectivity, enhance regional economic growth, and improve the movement of freight. The law also provides increased funds for our international ports and inland waterway projects through the Army Corps of Engineers, which are essential to the movement of agricultural goods from our state to the global marketplace.

Further, I appreciate that this law also includes $10 million for a bioproduct pilot program within the Department of Agriculture to highlight the benefits of using certain construction materials derived from agricultural commodities, and I commend the Indiana Soybean Alliance for their initiative and promotion of this program.

As we move forward, we must hold the administration accountable and ensure that these investments are implemented as efficiently and expeditiously as possible. Due to the ongoing pandemic, our economy remains in a very fragile state, and that is why I will continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to find pragmatic solutions that improve economic opportunities and the strength of our agricultural industry.

Congressman Frank Mrvan was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020 to represent the 1st District, which covers all of Lake and Porter counties and parts of LaPorte county. He is married to Jane, and they have two daughters, Genevieve and Scarlett.