As a member of the Maine House of Representatives, I understand all the hard work that goes into crafting and passing smart, bipartisan policy that benefits the communities I represent and the voters who put me in office.

That’s why I’m all the more grateful to Sen. Susan Collins and appreciative of her efforts to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill that was signed into law last year.

Thanks to the monumental legislative effort to pass the infrastructure bill, America can begin to address our backlog of long-overdue highway, road and bridge repairs, maintenance, and upgrades that will increase economic opportunities while improving quality of life in communities nationwide.

Moreover, the bipartisan infrastructure bill makes some much-needed investments in America’s airports. Altogether, Maine airports will receive more than $14 million for improvements in fiscal year 2022 — nearly $300,000 of which will go to the Auburn-Lewiston Airport — and more than $73 million over the next five years.

These investments will be vital in helping move critical airport infrastructure improvement projects forward, from upgrading and expanding runways and taxiways to renovating terminals to providing new, multi-modal transit options. Moreover, the larger investments under the new infrastructure law will help create jobs and spur further growth in America’s clean and renewable energy sector.

Recent polling suggests record support for common sense, all-of-the-above energy policies — and that is exactly what Republicans like Sen. Collins have been helping advance in Washington. On behalf of all Mainers, I hope the senator keeps up the good work.

Bruce Bickford, Auburn, District 63 state representative

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