Biden Economy: President Signs Highly Touted $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Into Law
President Joe Biden signed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill into law on Monday after months of negotiating with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
“My message for the American people is this: America’s moving again, and your life’s going to change for the better,” Biden said at the signing ceremony at the White House.
The bill is designed to upgrade the nation’s roads, bridges, transportation, broadband, and utilities over the next five years. The new legislation will invest $110 billion in roads and bridges, $66 billion in freight and passenger rail, $65 billion into expanding broadband, $55 billion in upgrading water systems, $39 billion in public transit, and $25 billion for airports.
Biden was joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.
“For too long, we've talked about having the best economy in the world. We've talked about asserting American leadership in the world with the best and safest roads, railways, ports, and airports. Here in Washington, we've heard countless speeches, promises, and white papers from the experts," Biden said.
While the bill fell short of Biden’s initial $2.3 trillion proposal, he struck a celebratory tone in his speech.
“But today, we are finally getting it done. And my message to the American people is: America is moving again. And your life is going to change for the better," Biden said.
Biden noted that the bill will “replace 100% of the nation’s lead pipes and service lines,” which will improve clean drinking water.
The new law will make high-speed internet available everywhere and “makes the most significant investment in roads and bridges in 70 years, the most significant investment in passenger rail in the past 50 years, and the largest investment in public transit ever,” Biden noted.
Biden says ports and airports will be modernized to make it easier for companies to get goods to market and reduce the supply chain bottlenecking that has disrupted the economy.
According to S&P Global, the law could create over 800,000 jobs by 2030.
“This law is a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America, it leaves no one behind. Our infrastructure used to be rated the best in the world, now according to the World Economic Forum, we rank 13th in the world. That’s about to change, things are gonna turn around in a big way,” Biden said.
Congressional Democrats aim to vote this week on the $1.85 trillion social spending bill, which is set to include a child tax credit, universal pre-K, expanding Medicare to cover hearing, protections for undocumented immigrants, funding affordable housing, and combating climate change.
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