PROPOSED POLICY 

WRITE IN ASHLEY BANKS 

 

THE REBUILDING DISTRICT 02 ACT

 

Community Infrastructure, Recovery & Economic Renewal Act

 

Purpose

 

The **Rebuilding District 02 Act** would establish a federal grant program dedicated to helping communities recover from flooding and severe-weather damage while addressing long-standing infrastructure needs and creating new economic opportunities.

 

Recent flooding and severe weather have demonstrated how vulnerable communities can be when aging infrastructure is combined with increasingly costly disasters. Communities in and around Illinois' 2nd Congressional District have experienced flooding, structural damage, power disruptions and other impacts from severe weather.

 

This Act would not simply rebuild what was damaged.

 

It would rebuild communities for the future.

 

1. Rebuilding Aging Infrastructure

 

The Act would establish federal infrastructure grants prioritizing communities with documented needs involving:

 

* Aging water systems

* Sewer infrastructure

* Roads

* Bridges

* Stormwater systems

* Flood-control infrastructure

* Electrical systems and grid resilience

* Public facilities

* Transportation infrastructure

* Other critical infrastructure necessary for community safety and economic development

 

Federal funding could be used to repair, replace, modernize and strengthen infrastructure so communities are better prepared for future disasters.

 

2. Flood Recovery & Resilience

 

Communities affected by flooding would receive priority consideration for infrastructure and recovery funding.

 

Projects could include:

 

* Drainage improvements

* Stormwater-management systems

* Flood-control projects

* Sewer-system improvements

* Road and bridge repairs

* Electrical infrastructure improvements

* Community flood-mitigation projects

* Repairs to publicly owned facilities damaged by severe weather

 

The objective would be to move communities from **recovery to resilience**, rather than repeatedly spending federal dollars repairing the same infrastructure after every major disaster.

 

3. Creating Jobs Through Rebuilding

 

The Rebuilding District 02 Act would connect infrastructure investment with employment opportunities.

 

Federal grant recipients would be encouraged to establish local hiring and workforce-development requirements for federally funded projects.

 

Projects could create opportunities in:

 

* Construction

* Skilled trades

* Plumbing

* Electrical work

* Engineering

* Environmental remediation

* Transportation

* Infrastructure maintenance

* Technology

* Project management

 

Where appropriate, federally funded projects could include apprenticeships and workforce-training opportunities for residents.

 

4. New Business Venture Grants

 

The Act would create a complementary **Business Renewal Grant Program** for communities receiving infrastructure assistance.

 

The purpose would be to encourage businesses to open, expand and invest in areas undergoing infrastructure recovery and revitalization.

 

Eligible businesses could receive competitive grants for:

 

* Opening a new business

* Expanding an existing business

* Renovating vacant commercial properties

* Purchasing necessary equipment

* Creating jobs

* Establishing workforce-training programs

* Providing needed goods or services that are currently unavailable in the community

* Redeveloping vacant or underutilized commercial areas

 

Additional consideration could be provided to businesses that hire residents from the surrounding community and make long-term investments in the area.

 

5. Rebuilding Vacant Commercial Areas

 

Federal grants could help communities transform vacant, abandoned or underutilized properties into productive economic spaces.

 

The goal would be to create a cycle:

 

Repair the infrastructure → restore properties → attract businesses → create jobs → increase economic activity → strengthen the community.

 

6. Community Rebuilding Plans

 

Communities seeking major funding would submit a Rebuilding District 02 Community Plan identifying:

 

* Infrastructure deficiencies

* Flooding and disaster vulnerabilities

* Damaged properties and public facilities

* Businesses and services the community needs

* Potential locations for new businesses

* Workforce needs

* Expected job creation

* Long-term economic-development opportunities

* Plans for maintaining infrastructure after federal funding ends

 

7. Federal Grants Before Additional Debt

 

The Act would emphasize **grant-based assistance** for eligible public infrastructure and community recovery projects rather than relying exclusively on additional loans.

 

Families, municipalities and businesses recovering from disasters should not be placed in a cycle where rebuilding simply creates additional debt.

 

8. Accountability & Transparency

 

Every federally funded project would be subject to public reporting.

 

The public should be able to see:

 

How much money was awarded.

Who received it.

What the money was supposed to accomplish.

When the project was supposed to be completed.

How many jobs were created.

What infrastructure was repaired.

How much the project ultimately cost.

Whether the promised results were delivered.

 

9. The Long-Term Goal

 

The Rebuilding District 02 Act would establish a model for rebuilding communities before infrastructure deterioration becomes another disaster.

 

This is about more than repairing roads, replacing pipes or rebuilding after floods.

 

It is about creating communities where people can:

 

Live.

Work.

Start businesses.

Raise families.

Invest.

And build a future.

 

REBUILDING DISTRICT 02

 

Repair the infrastructure.

Create the jobs.

Encourage new businesses.

Strengthen our communities.

Prepare for the next disaster before it happens.

 

We shouldn't wait for another disaster to tell us what needs to be fixed.