Miller-Meeks Votes to Pass Appropriations Bills that Deliver $19 MILLION to Southeast Iowa

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) voted to pass the next round of full-year appropriations bills, delivering targeted investments across Southeast Iowa. The legislation also continues House Republicans’ work to cut wasteful spending, rein in federal overreach, and govern responsibly. The bills now heads to the Senate.

“We’ve now passed twelve of twelve appropriations bills needed to fully fund the government through regular order. I’m proud to support legislation that cuts spending, cracks down on waste and fraud, and delivers real results for the people of Iowa,” said Miller-Meeks. “These bills include a whopping $19 MILLION in direct support that I have secured for 9 crucial projects across Southeast Iowa. This is exactly how Congress should work, local priorities, not Washington pet projects.”

The funding package includes the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7148) and the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7147). Together, they fund key national priorities while rolling back the bloated spending levels that drove inflation and exploded the national debt.

Background:

As part of the legislation, Miller-Meeks secured $19 million for nine major Community Project Funding (CPF) initiatives in Iowa’s First Congressional District:

• $6 Million for the City of Burlington Cascade Bridge Project: The funding would be used to replace the deteriorated Cascade Bridge with a modern, safe, and functional structure while preserving its historical essence. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it not only preserves our town's historical legacy but also enhances infrastructure safety and accessibility.
• $3 Million for the 110th Street FDR and Asphalt Paving Project in Jefferson County: The funding would be used to pave 110th Avenue, the county road leading to Pekin Community School District. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because paving this rural local road is critical to mitigate extreme safety risks—especially during Iowa winters. Additionally, Packwood, Iowa is also a grain transfer hub, and this route is used to deliver grain from the rural area to Packwood. For the economic prosperity of the Packwood community and ability to recruit a talented workforce for the Pekin Community School District, this infrastructure is essential.
• $2,996,000 for the City of Davenport Water Pollution Control Plant Flood Mitigation Project: The Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) is located on the Mississippi River and currently has no flood protection system in place to ensure efficient operations and access during major flood events. This funding would be used for the construction of an earthen levee for the northern perimeter of this wastewater treatment plant, which serves the cities of Davenport, Bettendorf, Riverdale, and Panorama Park. As Davenport has experienced in the past few decades, flooding on the Mississippi River is becoming both more frequent and intense, hitting a record crest and longest duration in 2019. This would be a valuable use of taxpayer dollars because not preventing flood risk would result in a public health and safety issue for the community. A plant shutdown would cause sewer backups and sump pump failures in resident’s homes, local businesses, industrial plants and factories, state occupied buildings, and critical facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes. It would also result in the discharge of untreated water to the Mississippi River.
• $2 Million for the Iowa County, Route W21 Pavement Improvement in Iowa County: Funding for this project will be used to upgrade and extend route W21 two miles from the Iowa County/Washington County border to north of F67. This would be a valuable use of taxpayer dollars because improving Route W21 is imperative for a variety of interests, including school bus routes, emergency medical response, fire response, law enforcement, and the movement of agricultural commodities.
• $1 Million for the Keokuk County, Iowa Route G13 Pavement Improvement Project: Funding for this project will be used to for the resurfacing of route G13 connecting the communities of Keswick and North English in Keokuk County. This would be a valuable use of taxpayer dollars because resurfacing the route between Keswick and North English is imperative for a variety of interests including but not limited to emergency medical response, fire response, law enforcement, school bus routes, and the movement of agricultural commodities and other industrial commerce.
• $1 Million for the U.S. Highway 6/Deer Creek Road Intersection Project in Coralville: Funding for this project will improve the U.S. Highway 6/Deer Creek Road intersection. The project will add lanes, a median, traffic signals, lighting, railroad safety enhancements, and turn lanes, and will provide the needed improvements to improve traffic safety and accommodate the growth in traffic in that area. This would be a valuable use of taxpayer dollars because improving this route is a matter of public safety to relieve congestion and provide infrastructure critical to the growth of nearby businesses. The City of Coralville has acquired funding through state grant programs, but this community project funding is essential to cover the remaining costs for this critical infrastructure investment.
• $1 Million for the North River Drive Connector Project in Clinton: The funding would be used to build a 1.5-mile north/south roadway link between downtown Clinton, IA, and the Lyons Business District. The new roadway will run along the land side of the existing Mississippi River levee between Riverview Drive to the south and 25th Avenue North to the north. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because when the Main Avenue bridge was moved 50 years ago, access to the City of Clinton’s northern neighborhood and retail areas was negatively impacted. This project will reconnect the vibrant downtown area with direct access to the Riverfront and businesses adjacent to the Mississippi River.
• $1 Million for the Montgomery Drive Improvement Project in Tipton: The funding would be used to convert an existing one lane, gravel Access Road, into a concrete, curb and gutter, residential street with an accompanying parallel 10-foot-wide concrete pedestrian/bicycle trail. The new street will be called “Montgomery Drive.” The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because Montgomery Drive will pass through a 20-acre area of undeveloped land and open it up to single-family residential development. This project will help solve the housing crisis in Tipton by opening a large area for development allowing more residents to move to the city and contribute to the economic development of this community.
• $1 Million for the Lee County Career Center Project: Funding for this project will be used to build out and equip the Lee County Career Center for the mutual benefit of Lee County and southeast Iowa industries, Lee County high school students, and Lee County adult learners. This would be a valuable use of taxpayer dollars because the completed center will train over 150 students annually with state-of the-art equipment for manufacturing and healthcare in partnership with Lee County industries. Around 80 Career Center students are expected to be placed with Lee County industry and businesses annually, counting adult and student participants.

These investments would come in addition to the more than $8 million in Community Project Funding Miller‑Meeks has already secured for Southeast Iowa in the 119th Congress, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to delivering federal resources back to the district.

###