Joe Biden and Republicans in Congress have reached an agreement on a watered down infrastructure bill. It would provide 93 billion over five years – 1.2 trillion over eight years – and would be used for rebuilding roads, bridges, transit, and other infrastructure.
From the White House, Biden said, “The investments we’ll be making as a result of this deal are long over-due. They’ll put Americans to work in good paying jobs, repairing our roads, and our bridges. They’ll deliver high speed internet to every home, bringing down the price that people pay now for internet service. And they’ll close the American digital divide that has been driven home by every mother and father with a child at home during the COVID crisis, that is, thank God, abating, and kids not being able to be in school…
“This deal makes key investments to put people to work all across the country, building transmission lines, upgrading the power grid to be more energy efficient and resilient in extreme weather, to be able to sustain extreme weather and the climate crisis. It also builds our natural infrastructure, our coastlines and our levees to be more resilient as well. American workers will be installing electric vehicle charging stations and undertaking critical environmental cleanups.”
The deal, reached Thursday, was led by Republican Rep. Rob Portman, and Democrat Rep. Kristen Sinema, including other lawmakers, some of whom are alleged of going against their party line.
Senators’ Joint statement & framework on bipartisan infrastructure deal:
“Today we’re proud to advance this bipartisan proposal to make a historic investment in America’s critical infrastructure needs, advance cleaner technologies, create jobs, and strengthen American competivness, without raising taxes. This agreement shows that the two parties can still come together, find common ground, and get things done that matter to everyday Americans. We are happy to have president Biden’s support, and will now get to work together enlisting the support of colleagues on both sides of the isle.”
“You know there are many who say bipartisanship is dead in Washington,” Sinema said. “We can use bipartisanship to solve these challenges.”
Republican Rep. Susan Collins said, “It sends an important message to the world as well that America can function, can get things done.”
Sources: The Week, Associated Press, the rev, Portman.senate.gov.
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