Kind supports Washington focus on infrastructure

The White House is making infrastructure a major focus, with a $2 trillion bill to be debated by Congress. 

The Democratic House member from La Crosse says helping the rural economy is going to be a big step in keeping up with other countries. 

Representative Ron Kind says building up the U.S. is an important way to “beat China.”

“I’m not just talking about our roads and highways and bridges,” said Kind. “I’m talking about broadband, talking about quality water systems that are lagging…these things have been neglected for too long.”

Kind says that being a senior member of Congress gives him a way to help “getting things done” for improving western Wisconsin, and that includes relief for PFAS pollution on French Island.

Congressman Kind lives on the island, and he says the water in his well does not have a hazardous level of PFAS, but he believes there is much that different levels of government can do to help families affected by the pollution.

“There’s nothing more frightening in anyone’s life than drinking bad, potentially carcinogenic water,” Kind said,” and so we’ve gotta fix that as quickly as possible.”   

Kind says he has been meeting with the state DNR to work on the water problem, and has spoken with both outgoing La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat and Mayor-elect Mitch Reynolds about PFAS.