Kiley takes a bow for 2009 funding

Dear Editor, Congressional House Representative Kevin Kiley's website posted this headline and article on July 11, 2025: "Rep. Kevin Kiley Delivers Big Win for California Commuters" "In a huge win for California taxpayers and commuters, Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) secured federal funding to expand SR-65 near I-80, easing traffic flow for millions of California drivers. "The project will cost $28.1 million, with nearly $22.5 million (80%) covered through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant program, something Rep. Kiley has been fighting to provide for his district." What Rep. Kiley fails to mention is the funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, (111th congress) signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2009. Rep. Kiley also fails to mention that his closely aligned predecessor, fellow Republican Tom McClintock, voted NO on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The votes on this bill were: 244 Democratic YES votes/11 NO votes and 177 Republican NO votes/0 YES votes. Rep. Kiley is quick to take credit for this freeway expansion without adequately crediting the U.S. Congressional funding source. This is opportunistic and deceptive. Leaving out pertinent details on his website puts Rep. Kiley's past and future declarations regarding his accomplishments in question and burdens his constituents to do further research to obtain all the (conveniently) left-out facts. Sincerely, Emily Gaber Auburn Exactly who deserves credit for 65 expansion? In the article "BUILD grant will pay most of SR 65 makeover" (Placer Herald/Roseville Press Tribune/Loomis News, July 18, page A1), you accurately note the source of the funding for the Highway 65 expansion project. Congressman Kevin Kiley is quoted in the article, taking credit for securing the financing while thanking his partners in the effort. The Placer County Transportation Planning Agency (PCTPA) is also effusive in its praise of Kiley and his role in securing the funding for the project. But nowhere in your article do you or the beneficiaries explore the origin of the funding – the BUILD grant. The BUILD grants exist because of the Obama administration and a Democratic-controlled Congress. The grants were established through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and reauthorized by the Biden administration and another Democratic-controlled Congress in 2021. Had these actions not been taken by previous Democratic administrations, it's doubtful there would be any federal funding for infrastructure projects. And given Republicans' recent rescission of previously authorized financing, there's no guarantee that the promise and potential of the BUILD grant program won't be derailed by an administration bent on nullifying the accomplishments of its Democratic predecessors. Let's give credit where credit is due. Kiley did his job and focused on his constituents' needs to obtain the necessary funding, but those funds would not have been available if Democrats had not previously done the work that Republicans refuse to do. Kiley will never acknowledge that, but he'll take credit as if he's singularly responsible for a windfall. We deserve better than political opportunism masquerading as civic-minded action. Barbara V. Smith Auburn