Rep. Grace Meng, D-NY, wants constituents to share infrastructure ideas

February 13, 2023

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High profile attendees were at the ribbon-cutting event Aug. 12, 2021, to inaugurate the new Community Center of the South Asian Council for Social Services. From left, New York State Assemblymember Nily Rozic, NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm, New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, NYC Council Member Peter Koo, New York State Senator John Liu, SACSS Executive Director Sudha Acharya, Congress Person Grace Meng and, New York City Council Member Barry Grodenchik inaugurating SACSS’ new Community Center. Also seen (second row left to right) SACSS Board of directors -Mysore Gandhi (board secretary), Swarna Shah (board treasurer), Devi Ramchandran (board vice-president) and Rekha Gupta (board president). Photo: courtesy SACSS

Congresswoman Grace Meng, D-NY, who represents many Indian-American residents of the Sixth District, Queens, is soliciting ideas from her constituents to make decisions about infrastructure spending. Meng has supported the Indian-American community on several initiatives including making Diwali a public school holiday.

In 2021, Meng helped pass the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF), which President Biden signed into law.

Describing BIF as “a once-in-a-generation investment” in the country’s transportation, infrastructure, and economy, Meng says she is opening a “submission form to hear directly from you on what federal infrastructure dollars you’d like spent in our communities.”

New York State alone is slated to receive billions in funding to improve the state’s infrastructure. And in Queens in particular, she said, some of the money has been put toward improving natural disaster infrastructure by upgrading tunnels, power grids, and ensuring safer roads. More than $28 million has already been allotted to improving LaGuardia Airport and open jobs in the district, over $1 million towards the inspection and improvement of the Queensboro Bridge, and over $6 million on safety improvements to the Long Island Expressway.

“There are many potential projects that I am excited about implementing in Queens to improve our infrastructure – but I want to hear from you!” said the Congresswoman.

Because municipalities join federal agencies to implementing the spending, Meng said, she will share the ideas with New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul “so that they can take Queens voices into account when deciding where to implement these federal dollars.”

Ideas can be submitted by visiting (Meng Infrastructure Form). Responses are due by 5 pm on March 10th, 2023.