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The Need for Action in Delaware
For decades, infrastructure in Delaware has suffered from a systemic lack of investment. The need for action is clear:
Delaware’s infrastructure received a D grade on its Infrastructure Report Card. The American Jobs Plan will make a historic investment in our nation’s infrastructure.
- ROADS AND BRIDGES: In Delaware there are 19 bridges and over 250 miles of highway in poor condition. Since 2011, commute times have increased by 5% in Delaware and on average, each driver pays $456 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair. The American Jobs Plan will devote more than $600 billion to transform our nations' transportation infrastructure and make it more resilient, including $115 billion repairing roads and bridges.
- PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Delaware residents who take public transportation spend an extra 87% of their time commuting and non-White households are 3.7 times more likely to commute via public transportation. 10% of trains and other transit vehicles in the state are past useful life. The American Jobs Plan will modernize public transit with an $85 billion investment.
- RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE: From 2010 to 2020, Delaware has experienced 10 extreme weather events, costing the state up to $2 billion in damages. The President is calling for $50 billion to improve the resiliency of our infrastructure and support communities’ recovery from disaster.
- DRINKING WATER: Over the next 20 years, Delaware’s drinking water infrastructure will require $806 million in additional funding. The American Jobs Plan includes a $111 billion investment to ensure clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.
- HOUSING: In part due to a lack of available and affordable housing, 50,000 renters in Delaware are rent burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent. The President proposes investing over $200 billion to increase housing supply and address the affordable housing crisis.
- BROADBAND: Almost 60% of residents in Delaware live in areas where, by one definition, there is only one internet provider with broadband infrastructure that provides minimally acceptable speeds and 11% do not have an internet subscription. Even where infrastructure is available, broadband may be too expensive to be within reach. The American Jobs Plan will invest $100 billion to bring universal, reliable, high-speed, and affordable coverage to every family in America.
- CAREGIVING: Across the country, hundreds of thousands of older adults and people with disabilities are in need of home and community-based services. The President’s plan will invest $400 billion to help more people access care and improve the quality of caregiving jobs.
- CHILD CARE: In Delaware, there is an estimated $102 million gap in what schools need to do maintenance and make improvements and 25% of residents live in a childcare desert. The American Jobs Plan will modernize our nation’s schools and early learning facilities and build new ones in neighborhoods across Delaware and the country.