Just 48 hours after she was sworn in to represent Ohio鈥檚 11th District Congresswoman Shontel Brown voted 鈥測es鈥� on the largest infrastructure plan the country had seen in more than a decade.
includes money for roads, bridges, transportation, expanded internet access and other projects.
According to Brown鈥檚 office, Ohio鈥檚 slice of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package includes $9 billion for road and bridge repair, more than a billion for public transit and $1.4 billion for drinking water systems.
In Northeast Ohio, Brown said replacing lead pipes in homes in Akron and Cleveland is key not only for people鈥檚 health, but for getting people back to work.
鈥淭hat was something that was really, really important to me to deliver something that will turn our economy around. So, I couldn鈥檛 be more excited to have passed that humongous bill on my second day (in Congress),鈥� Brown said.
Brown is one of the newest members of the Congressional Black Caucus, which was
Brown said the caucus bridges the gap between the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party.
鈥淚 think the diversity of the caucus is what allowed us to be able to broker negotiations to get this deal done,鈥� she said.
She and her colleagues are now working to get the $1.7 trillion Build Back Better act passed. That plan expands health care, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, creates affordable housing and provides free preschool.
Brown, a former Cuyahoga County Council member and the current chair of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, said she鈥檚 relied on her mentors in getting her bearings since winning the special election earlier this month.
They include her predecessor and current Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge, Central Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty, and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, among others.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more appreciative and grateful for that friendship, that mentorship and that support,鈥� she said.
Brown said instead of the traditional red carpet, her colleagues rolled out a blue one for her in Washington.
Brown鈥檚 term lasts a little over a year, but when she runs for re-election, the 11th District could look markedly different thanks to redistricting.
When asked about her confidence in the Ohio Redistricting Commission, she had her doubts.
鈥淚鈥檓 not very optimistic, candidly speaking. Because it鈥檚 Republican dominated,鈥� she said.
鈥淲hatever comes my way, I鈥檒l be ready.鈥�
