Reflection Memo: 2021 Infrastructure Bill

Due Date: June 19, 2022 (11:59PM)

Points: 25 points (15% of course grade)

Purpose:

The purpose of this assignment is to (1) analyze a recently passed policy and connect that analysis to course objectives and (2) demonstrate your ability to analyze information and apply it to questions about the policy process.

Skills:

This assignment will focus on skills necessary for analyzing information and thinking critically.

Read and absorb information on a recently passed policy.

Analyze complex national events and apply them to your daily life.

Find and cite outside materials using APA format. (Please see APA formatting resource below)

Knowledge:

This assignment will help you connect larger national events and problems to your daily life.

Understand how the policies and programs passed at the federal level impact local and regional concerns.

Understand how to interpret U.S. Federal legislation.

Tasks:

This assignment asks you to read about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA). Then, you will research what your local municipality’s plans are for this

This is an individual assignment.

Read the sources posted in modules in Canvas for background information.

Find 3 additional credible sources of your choosing to help you answer the following questions:

How is your town/county/state preparing for the delivery of funds from the IIJA?

What methods of policy evaluation did your town/county/state use to analyze where to spend the funds?

How did your local member of Congress vote on the IIJA? What was their official statement on the bill? Is there any disconnect between the vote and the statement?

A debate surrounding broadband access occurred in the lead-up to the passage of this bill. Do you feel broadband access is a key component of infrastructure in the 21st century? Why or why not?

Criteria for Success:

Write a short response answering the questions above. You may address each point individually or write in essay format. The total word count should be between 700-100 words. You need to follow APA formatting guidelines and cite all relevant information (including in-text citations). You will use resources from our course in addition to the three you find. You may enter text directly in the assignment page or upload a Microsoft Word document. The rubric is attached.

Resources:

Link to the bill itself: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684

National Association of Counties: https://www.naco.org/resources/legislative-analysis-counties-infrastructure-investment-jobs-act

Impact on Florida: https://www.wlrn.org/podcast/the-florida-roundup/2021-11-12/florida-infrastructure-spending-bill-biden-congress

Broadband: https://theconversation.com/infrastructure-law-high-speed-internet-is-as-essential-as-water-and-electricity-171782

APA Formatting: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html

Rubric:

Criteria Better Good Unsatisfactory/Beginning

Content requirement. Content shows a thorough understanding of the topic. All questions are answered. (8-10) Content shows some understanding or only some of questions are answered. (3-7) Content shows little understanding or most questions are not answered. (0-2).

Research is thorough and credible. Substantive research from credible sources. (8-10) Adequate research or sources mostly credible (3-7) Research is scant or uses non-credible resources (0-2).

Length and Sources Meets length requirement, outside sources, APA formatting, grammar and spelling requirements. (4-5) Does not meet length, APA format, outside sources, grammar or spelling requirements. (0-2)