Thursday, April 1st, 2021
Trillions for the infrastructure
Biden promises Americans job miracles
US President Biden wants to modernize his country’s infrastructure with an ambitious program. At the same time, the project should also create millions of new jobs. The catch: Biden also relies on Republican votes to implement it.
US President Joe Biden has touted his massive plan to modernize the country’s infrastructure as the largest labor program since World War II. The approximately two trillion dollars, around 1.7 trillion euros, comprehensive package is a project that will determine a generation – as once the space program or the construction of the highways, said Biden in the state of Pennsylvania.
The plan will create “millions of jobs” and help the US to assert itself in the race with China. Congress must decide on the package, he demanded. “We have to do it,” emphasized Biden.
Biden’s plan includes the modernization of around 32,000 kilometers of roads, 10,000 bridges, several airports and investments in local public transport and electric mobility. Part of the program is also the broadband expansion and the renovation of the water supply system, said Biden in the city of Pittsburgh about his proposal. The expenses are to be financed, among other things, by an increase in corporate tax.
“The law offers a fair economy that gives everyone a chance to succeed in creating the strongest, resilient and innovative economy in the world, it is not a plan to change small things,” said Biden. The US is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but the country’s “crumbling” infrastructure only ranks 13th after decades of insufficient investment, complained Biden. That is also a threat to national security.
“Simply put, these are investments that we have to make – we can’t afford not to,” said Biden. The Democrat had already spoken out in favor of a large package to improve the infrastructure during the election campaign. For the adoption of such a package, however, he is likely to have to rely on the approval of around ten Republicans in the Senate, which is at least uncertain. The Senate Republican Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, immediately rejected the plan.
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