On a historic day for the American People and the United States, President Joe Biden, flanked by 800 guests of both major political parties, signed the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.
As many Democrats have remarked: infrastructure week has finally come.
Joe Biden is the master of the art of the deal.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, according to the Biden/Harris Administration will:
- "Putting pipefitters and plumbers to work replacing lead water pipes so every child and American can drink clean water.
- Transform rail, roads, bridges, public transit, and modernize our ports and airports and freight rail.
- Manufacturing solar panels, wind farms, batteries, and electric vehicles to grow clean energy supply chains we can export to the world.
- Building out the first-ever national network of charging stations so families can travel coast-to-coast in electric vehicles.
- Making high-speed internet affordable and available for every household in America."
In remarks before signing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, President Biden said the legislation proves both Democrats and Republicans could work together to accomplish great things for the American People.
"...And I’m going to be signing a law that is truly consequential because we made our democracy deliver for the American people. We compromised. We reached a consensus. That’s necessary.
And now, our focus moves to implementing an infrastructure law that’s going to — with speed and with discipline..."
"...And, folks, when you see those projects start in your hometowns, I want you to feel what I feel: pride — pride in what we can do together as the United States of America.
Folks, you know, the same goes for my plan to build back better for the people — getting folks back to work and reducing costs of things like childcare, eldercare, housing, healthcare, prescription drugs, and meeting the moment on climate change.
I’m confident that the House will pass this bill, and then we’re going to have to pass it in the Senate. And it’s fully paid for..."
"As I look out on this crowd today, I see Democrats and Republicans, national leaders, local leaders, all elected officials, labor leaders, business leaders, and, most of all, I see fellow Americans. I see America.
Let’s remember this day. Let’s remember we can come together. And most of all, let’s remember what we got done for the American people when we do come together.
I truly believe that 50 years from now, historians are going to look back at this moment and say, “That’s the moment America began to win the competition of the 21st century.”
So, with confidence, optimism, with vision and faith in each other, let’s believe in possibilities. Let’s believe in one another. And let’s believe in America."
Arizonan Reaction to the Infrastructure Bill Signing.
Arizona stands to receive several billion dollars in infrastructure funding according to the new law signed by President Biden today.
This includes funding for:
- highway projects.
- public transportation including an Amtrak line and investments in electric buses.
- ports of entry.
- modernize and clean up public and private water drinking systems.
- bridge renovation and replacement for the 132 "structurally deficient bridges" in the Grand Canyon State.
- expanding and modernizing high-speed internet. Governor Ducey's office has already announced the allocation of those funds.
- remove and replace lead pipes.
- wildfire management.
- tribal water, broadband, and transportation infrastructure.
Arizona leading dignitaries, many of whom attended the White House Ceremony, also weighed in on the historic event. Their comments are below.
https://twitter.com/SenatorSinema/status/1460389359463682050
https://twitter.com/SenMarkKelly/status/1460360360246988802
https://twitter.com/TucsonRomero/status/1460371568819785733
After receiving the invite to the White House Ceremony, Mayor Romero issued a statement which read:
“I am honored to join President Biden and leaders throughout the country at the White House for the signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This bill represents a historic investment in our nation’s infrastructure, supporting a number of potential projects locally, ranging from a state-of-the-art Bus Rapid Transit system and a new Tucson-Phoenix passenger rail line to building a grid of electric-vehicle charging stations and cleaning up PFAS contamination.”
“I applaud the leadership of Senator Sinema, Senator Kelly, and all members of our Congressional Delegation who helped bring this bill across the finish line. We look forward to breaking ground on transformative projects that will improve connections throughout the region, invest in historically marginalized communities, reduce our carbon footprint, and create good-paying jobs.”
https://twitter.com/MayorGallego/status/1460374782550020096
https://twitter.com/MayorGiles/status/1460372544335204354
https://twitter.com/RepKirkpatrick/status/1460304208448479240
https://twitter.com/RepKirkpatrick/status/1460299279491338262
https://twitter.com/RepRubenGallego/status/1460360011113279491
https://twitter.com/RepRaulGrijalva/status/1460340381686579207
https://twitter.com/RepOHalleran/status/1460404554848251904
In a press release, the Congressional District One Representative relayed:
“Today, I was proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, tribal leaders, governors and mayors, skilled laborers, and stakeholders that have worked for change across our country to celebrate the signing of this important bill. Our nation’s crumbling infrastructure has hamstrung the health and growth of our communities for decades, but perhaps nowhere has the effect been felt so acutely as in rural Arizona."
"In the shadow of wildfire burn scars, towns across our state plead for flood control project funding and hardworking Arizonans traverse some of the most dangerous, outdated roads in our country. Tribal families across Indian Country far too often lack the infrastructure most of us have come to consider as a given—clean, running water; basic electricity; sanitation systems; and an internet connection. The bill we’ve signed into law today will finally provide long-overdue investments to address these problems that cost lives and livelihoods, creating millions of new jobs in the process. This legislation will create jobs that will support families and revitalize our crumbling infrastructure with made-in-America work—pipefitters, auto workers, clean energy construction, tradesmen, and specialized labor and small business involvement will all work in tandem to uplift rural economies across our country.”
https://twitter.com/RepGregStanton/status/1460345628538585093
Raquel Teran, the Chairperson of the Arizona Democratic Party issued a statement that read:
“President Biden won the state of Arizona last year because we believed in his promise to reach across the aisle and deliver results on the issues that matter most — and with his Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, he’s done just that and so much more. Biden’s ability to find consensus in Washington and pass one of the greatest infrastructure investments in American history after just nine months in office puts Donald Trump’s fruitless attempts to pass infrastructure to shame. By opposing this legislation, Arizona Republicans tried to block jobs, internet access, clean drinking water, safe roads and bridges, and modernized transit — and Arizona voters will absolutely hold them accountable for that fatal miscalculation come November of 2022.”
Later, party spokesperson Sarah Guggenheimer issued a stinging rebuke of the four Arizona Representatives that voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan, writing:
“Arizona Republican politicians, including the Senate GOP primary field, have made it clear they oppose fixing Arizona’s roads and bridges, investing in water infrastructure, managing wildfires, and upgrading our ports of entry. Thankfully Arizonans know they can rely on elected officials like Senator Kelly who look past the partisan gridlock that keeps things from getting done and works with Republicans and Democrats to deliver real results.”
Now it is time to pass the Build Back Better Plan.
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