Hinson voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill which provided essential funds for infrastructure projects. The Infrastructure Bill provided funding for dams and licks that helped Iowa’s economy, and despite her opposition, Hinson touted the funding.
2021: Hinson Voted Against Providing More Than $720 Billion Through FY 2026 For Highway, Public Transit, Rail, And Surface Transportation Safety And Research Programs, And Reauthorizing Several Water Infrastructure Programs, And $36 Billion For Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Through FY 2026. In July 2021, Hinson voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, “authorize more than $720 billion in surface transportation and water infrastructure spending. It would reauthorize federal-aid highway, public transit, rail, and surface transportation safety and research programs for five years, through fiscal 2026, and reauthorize various water infrastructure programs for five or ten years. As amended, the bill would additionally authorize more than $36 billion through fiscal 2026 for activities related to electric vehicle infrastructure, access and manufacturing.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 221-201. The Senate amended the bill and the House voted on the concurrence. The bill ultimately became law. [House Vote 208, 7/1/21; Congressional Quarterly, 7/1/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3684]
Hinson Touted Funding For Modernizing Locks And Dams On The Mississippi River. According to the HuffPost, “ In a press release issued by her office on Wednesday, Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) touted ‘game-changing’ funding of $829 million announced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that is aimed toward modernizing locks and dams on the Mississippi River, which borders her Eastern Iowa district.” [HuffPost, 1/19/22]
Bleeding Heartland: Hinson Touts “Game-Changing” Projects After Opposing Infrastructure Bill [Bleeding Heartland, 1/20/22]
Hinson’s Spokesperson Claimed That The Money Was Going To Be Spent “Regardless” And That Hinson Was Going To Do Everything To Ensure It Was Reinvested In Iowa. According to the HuffPost, “‘Congresswoman Hinson opposed the infrastructure package because it was tied to trillions of other spending in the House,’ Sophie Seid, a spokeswoman for the congresswoman, said in a statement to HuffPost. ‘Since the bill was signed into law, this money was going to be spent regardless. If there’s federal money on the table she is, of course, going to do everything she can to make sure it is reinvested in Iowa.’ Her office noted Hinson joined other lawmakers in calling for the construction of the project after the infrastructure law was passed.” [HuffPost, 1/19/22]
$97 Million Was Going To Help Improve Iowa’s Railroads And Manufacturing. According to Iowa’s News Now, “ Due to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, $97 million in grant money is being directed to help improve Iowa's railroads and manufacturers.” [Iowa’s News Now, 10/25/24]
Five Iowa Airports Were Set To Receive $27 Million In Grants. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, “ Five Iowa airports will receive $27 million in grants from the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Thursday that Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Dubuque and Washington area airports will receive money from the 2022 Airport Terminal Program.” [Iowa Capital Dispatch, 7/7/22]