In Wisconsin, Biden says infrastructure plan would create millions of
jobs
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[June 30, 2021]
By Andrea Shalal
LA CROSSE, Wis. (Reuters) -U.S. President
Joe Biden promoted his $1.2 trillion infrastructure package as a
"generational investment" on Tuesday as he sought to pump up support for
a plan that is in need of wide support in Congress to become reality.
Biden visited a public transit facility in La Crosse, a city in western
Wisconsin, highlighting the plan's investment of some $48.5 billion in
public transit to reduce commute times and help reduce emissions, while
boosting economic growth and wages.
In a speech, he spoke about local gains from the deal, including funds
for electric buses, replacement of some 80,000 lead water lines in
Milwaukee and better access to high-speed internet.
The bipartisan package also includes $109 billion in funding for roads,
bridges and other major projects, including the 1,000 bridges rated
structurally deficient in Wisconsin.
"This is a generational investment to modernize our infrastructure,
creating millions of good-paying jobs, and position America to compete
with the rest of the world in the 21st century," said Biden.
He also noted that the plan will not hike tax on gasoline or raise taxes
on Americans earning under $400,000 a year.
Vowing the plan would create jobs for middle-class people, Biden said:
"This is a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America."
Biden is attempting to keep up the momentum for a legislative proposal
that Democratic congressional leaders believe will reach a critical
stage in the second half of July.
"I expect the last two weeks of July to be very busy weeks, when we will
deal with the president's proposals," the No. 2 House Democrat, Steny
Hoyer, told reporters on Tuesday.
House and Senate Democrats hope to have infrastructure legislation done
and on its way to Biden's desk by the end of September, a Democratic
aide said.
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President Joe Biden gestures while talking to a bus driver as he
tours the La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility to highlight the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework during a visit to La Crosse,
Wisconsin, U.S., June 29, 2021. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Senate Democrats are aiming to pass bipartisan
legislation and send it to the House, before breaking for an August
recess.
Biden, under massive pressure from Republicans, on Saturday withdrew
a threat to not sign the bipartisan bill unless it was accompanied
by a separate package focused on what he calls "human
infrastructure," including expanded home care for the elderly and
disabled.
Press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Monday that the White
House had been in touch with Democratic leaders about the two
measures but Biden had not spoken about the issue with U.S. Senate
Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who wants Democrats in Congress
to abandon their plan to link the two measures.
With the Senate divided 50-50 between the two parties, a move by
McConnell against the bipartisan bill could cost it the 60 votes it
would need to pass under Senate rules. Democrats aim to pass the
companion measure through a process called reconciliation that
requires a simple majority.
Psaki said Biden's trip to Wisconsin was intended to convince
Americans about the importance of both packages. He will also travel
to Michigan on Saturday.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal, Additional reporting by Jeff Mason and
Steve Holland; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Steve Orlofsky and Cynthia
Osterman)
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