President Biden is anxious to push several big agenda items through a series of phone calls and personal meetings. It includes a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that’s before the U.S. House of Representatives. On Monday, the House began debate on the infrastructure bill that aims to improve transportation and public works.
One of those who spoke in favor of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act is Congressman Don Young:
“I rise in support of this legislation. It’s not what I would have if I was chairman. It’s not what Mr. DeFazio would have if he was chairman but it’s what we’ve got. We need infrastructure in this country now. The last big infrastructure bill we passed was $286 billion. We darn near did that unanimously. It was the biggest one, but from that time on, we have not raised the money, nor we have put the, I call the wherewithal in the hands of built roads and airports and all the other things, all the ports, transportation. Transportation is the economy of this great nation and we have fallen behind. Even in those days when I was chairman, I said we needed a trillion dollars and people laughed at me. But the fact of the manner we did need it and we need this bill to make sure that we have an economic base for the future generations of this great nation. Would I have done it this day? No. I would have said Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Graves, members of committee, let’s write a bill together with the Senate.
Young also issued a plea to his fellow members of Congress:
“This is the last opportunity that we have to make sure those potholes are filled, those airports run right, the bridges are safe and when our economy can continue to grow. This is the only chance that we have. To my colleagues that are voting no, I say think about it, what is the other alternative? I don’t tie it to the big bill, the $3.5 trillion, I don’t tie it to that. Some people do. This is a working piece of legislation that will build, put people to work, not only to work but build something that provides the economic base for this great nation. I suggest, respectfully, to my side of the aisle and to that side of the aisle, if we really want to make this nation great again, then let’s pass this legislation.”
Some moderate Democrats reached a deal with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring the bill up for a vote without connecting it to a much bigger spending bill backed by President Biden, which Young says he opposes.
The U.S. Senate already passed the bipartisan measure.
🚨BREAKING🚨I just spoke in support of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, commonly called the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Is this bill perfect? No – in fact, few bills are. But if we do not invest in our infrastructure, we risk our economic independence and strength. pic.twitter.com/NSrTJDiQxB
— Rep. Don Young (@repdonyoung) September 28, 2021