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January 12, 2022
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Todd Young gives 2021 ‘Year in Review’ for Indiana
By Todd Young U.S. Senator for Indiana
Happy New Year, Hoosiers. I wish each of you good health, prosperity, and joy as we dive into 2022. The following is a list of some of the legislative accomplishments we got done in 2021. In 2022, I look forward to continuing representing Hoosiers in Washington, D.C.
The Endless Frontier Act American innovation, technology, and national security efforts are falling behind our international competitors, especially China. Last year, the Senate passed my Endless Frontier Act, also known as the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), which would help the United States outinnovate, out-compete, and outgrow China. Advancement of the Endless Frontier Act would also cultivate job growth by establishing regional technology hubs across the nation. We must move this bill through the House so it can be signed into law this year, a key step in helping us to win the 21st century.
South Shore Line Funding The South Shore Line Double Track Project and the West Lake Corridor Commuter Rail Project combined are expected to attract
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Todd Young roughly $2.3 billion in private investment to Northwest Indiana and create more than 6,000 new jobs and $3 billion in economic impact by 2048. Last January, I worked with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to secure the nearly $173 million in federal funding needed to complete the South Shore Line Double Track Project. This has been a game-changing infrastructure priority for Indiana for many years. This project will benefit Northwest Indiana and Hoosiers for years to come.
The DRIVE-Safe Act As the supply chain crisis looms and the trucking and logistics industry struggles to find CDL drivers, I worked with Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to introduce and pass the DRIVE-Safe Act. The DRIVE-Safe Act became law in November. This legislation addresses the truck driver shortage by allowing those older than 18 to obtain a CDL after extensive training. Though 49 states and the District of Columbia allow individuals to obtain a CDL at the age 18, federal law currently prohibits those operators from moving goods from state to state until they are 21. The DRIVE-Safe Act establishes an apprenticeship program that would allow for the legal operation of a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce by CDL holders under the age of 21. National Defense Authorization Act I’m proud to have secured several key provisions in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including provisions to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation with Israel, investments in emerging technologies, and the creation of a bipartisan commission to examine our two decades of war in Afghanistan.
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The bill also includes a plan I worked on with members of the Burmese community in Indiana to support the restoration of democracy in Burma. This NDAA gives our troops a 2.7 percent pay raise and provides a 3 percent increase over the previous year’s military budget. This increase is more for our military than President Biden’s original proposal, which would have slashed defense spending. This increase is critical to keep pace with the Chinese Communist Party which has averaged ranged between 7.2 percent and 8.1 percent increases in year-over-year growth since 2016. Also, in 2021, the following provisions were secured in support of Indiana projects: Anti-Submarine Warfare Equipment: As the United States engages in strategic competition, our Navy will be at the forefront of securing vital sea lanes, protecting commerce, and reducing threats to the homeland from the navies of China and Russia. Sonobuoys, like those manufactured by Ultra Electronics in Columbia City, Indiana, are a vital tool in detecting and tracking submarine threats from our peer competitors. Senator Young See Young, Page 2