(Washington Insider Magazine) -On Monday November 15th, 2021, President Joe Biden signed an infrastructure bill meant to change the lives of millions of people around the country. A bipartisan infrastructure plan proposed by the president that is designed to create jobs all across the United States.
Biden’s signature follows years of failed efforts in Washington to change the basic infrastructure and to make much needed improvements to help boost the economy and create jobs. The $1.75 trillion proposal is meant to create and invest in a social safety net and climate policy.
The bill will include $550 billion in new money into transportation, broadband, and utilities. $110 billion into roads, bridges, and other major construction projects. $ 66 billions into overhauling the freight and passenger rail lines which includes potential upgrades to Amtrak. $65 billion will go into upgrading and expanding broadband for everyone. $55 billion will be going into improving water systems such as replacing old and outdated lead pipes in cities that still have them. The proposal will be spread over a five-year period of time.
Many politicians on both sides have said that the bipartisan plan has not gone nearly far enough to address the growing concerns of climate change or to build an additional layer of support for households by addressing items such as child care, education, household tax credits, and health care. Roughly 800 people, including members of Congress, Mayors, governors, and union officials came to the event.
The 10 Democratic and Republican senators who were listed as the lead authors for the bill said in a joint statement that the law will “positively impact every American.” President Joe Biden will also be heading to New Hampshire and Michigan on Tuesday and Wednesday in an attempt to sell the infrastructure plan.
This bill is just short of realizing his full-scale ambitions for overhauling America’s transportation and energy systems. Biden’s last attempt was a very ambitious bill that included $2.3 trillion towards infrastructure and other community projects. It has been stated that the bill would put the United States in a better position to compete against other world powers such as China that are vying for dominance of 21st century energy industries.
While this bill would certainly bolster the economy this is not meant to be a traditional economic stimulus plan. This bill will mostly focus on “shovel-worthy” projects — meaning those that make the most of federal dollars — anything that is included on the “shovel-ready” list will be ones that dump money into the economy faster than others.
