US President Joe biden signed his hard-fought $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal into law before a bipartisan, celebratory crowd on the White House lawn, declaring that the new infusion of cash for roads, bridges, ports and more is going to make life 'change for the better' for the American people.
'My message to the American people is this: America is moving again and your life is going to change for the better,' he said, reports Associated Press.
The president hopes to use the infrastructure law to build back his popularity, which has taken a hit amid rising inflation and the inability to fully shake the public health and economic risks from Covid-19.
The administration hopes to sell the US$1.2 trillion package as a success that bridged partisan divides and will help fix bridges and roads, change out unhealthy lead water pipes, build an electric vehicle charging network and expand broadband internet. It is the most significant investment of the kind since the creation of the national highways network in the 1950s.
Mr Biden held off on signing the hard-fought infrastructure deal after it passed on November 5 until legislators would be back from a congressional recess and could join in a splashy bipartisan event.
In order to achieve a bipartisan deal, the president had to cut back his initial ambition to spend $2.3 trillion on infrastructure by more than half. The bill that becomes law in reality includes about $550 billion in new spending over 10 years, since some of the expenditures in the package were already planned.
The White House announced Mitch Landrieu, the former New Orleans mayor, would help manage and coordinate the implementation of the infrastructure spending.
Historians, economists and engineers interviewed by The Associated Press welcomed Mr Biden's efforts. But they stressed that $1.2 trillion was not nearly enough to overcome the government's failure for decades to maintain and upgrade the country's infrastructure.
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'My message to the American people is this: America is moving again and your life is going to change for the better,' he said, reports Associated Press.
The president hopes to use the infrastructure law to build back his popularity, which has taken a hit amid rising inflation and the inability to fully shake the public health and economic risks from Covid-19.
The administration hopes to sell the US$1.2 trillion package as a success that bridged partisan divides and will help fix bridges and roads, change out unhealthy lead water pipes, build an electric vehicle charging network and expand broadband internet. It is the most significant investment of the kind since the creation of the national highways network in the 1950s.
Mr Biden held off on signing the hard-fought infrastructure deal after it passed on November 5 until legislators would be back from a congressional recess and could join in a splashy bipartisan event.
In order to achieve a bipartisan deal, the president had to cut back his initial ambition to spend $2.3 trillion on infrastructure by more than half. The bill that becomes law in reality includes about $550 billion in new spending over 10 years, since some of the expenditures in the package were already planned.
The White House announced Mitch Landrieu, the former New Orleans mayor, would help manage and coordinate the implementation of the infrastructure spending.
Historians, economists and engineers interviewed by The Associated Press welcomed Mr Biden's efforts. But they stressed that $1.2 trillion was not nearly enough to overcome the government's failure for decades to maintain and upgrade the country's infrastructure.
SeaNews Turkey