Breaking Down Biden's Infrastructure Plan
by Tatiana Orr
America is one of the richest countries in the world, yet our infrastructure does not reflect that. In the past decade or so, there has been very little legislation passed to upgrade our roads, electric grids, or water systems; and as the pandemic demonstrated our hospitals and care facilities are not properly equipped for disasters. Internationally the United States is ranked 13th in terms of the quality of our overall infrastructure. With countries like Singapore and the Netherlands leading the way, it’s fine time we take some cues from them and invest in the future of our country.
The American Jobs Plan proposes to implement a number of changes over the course of the next 8 years in areas related to infrastructure with the goal of creating jobs and raising our standards of living. The President’s aim is to unify our country while simultaneously addressing the issues we have regarding race and class. Communities of color are impacted the heaviest when it comes to unequal environmental conditions. For rural and developing areas, the plan lays out what can be done to transition into using clean energy sources. They will also be creating a Civilian Climate Corps to promote environmental justice. Altogether, the $2 trillion dollar investment seems to be an auspicious start for a project that will no doubt benefit all Americans in the long run. Where the funding will come from is still up in the air with the discussion of the Made in America Tax Plan which would raise the corporate tax rate to 28% and multinational corporate tax minimum to 21%. The full plan is lengthy in detail, so here are some key takeaway points from the White House Fact Sheet and proposed budget allocations:
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Transition into clean energy use and modernize industries to support these changes.
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Clean energy and sustainability accelerator.
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Repair 20,000 miles of roads and highways, 10 “economically significant” bridges, and 10,000 smaller bridges.
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Create a network of 500,000 electric vehicle stations and replace diesel transit vehicles with electric bus fleets.
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Amtrak repairs and route extensions and updates to airports, ports, and waterways.
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Build, preserve, and retrofit over 2 million affordable homes and commercial buildings.
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Provide clean drinking water by replacing lead pipes and service lines.
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Construct and modernize public schools.
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Build high speed broadband networks to expand accessibility and lower the costs of the internet.
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Improve public housing.
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Extend resources to Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics.
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Invest in community colleges.
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Plug oil wells and gas lines and reclaim abandoned mines.
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Extend resources to caregivers for the elderly and disabled, and improve the quality and access to healthcare through the expansion of Medicaid.
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Research, development,and manufacturing domestic goods while decreasing emissions
There are still many obstacles we must overcome in order to be on the right track, but some progress is better than none. While this will be a costly investment it is projected to stimulate the struggling economy, create millions of jobs, and make way for much needed sustainable and eco-conscious advancements. To learn more you can visit the White House website directly and reference the chart below for budget details.
Sources: The White House/ Washington Post/ USA TODAY
Meet our Contributor
Tatiana is a Los Angeles based writer with a background in Fashion. She obtained her B.A in English: Creative Writing and a minor in Journalism with an emphasis on Public Relations. Working by day as a Brand Strategist and writer by night her first book, My Amerikkka, was self-published in 2016. While she carves out her future as an author, she contributes articles in her spare time and is in the process of creating an eco-centered brand. Her interest in sustainability started in childhood and developed into a lifelong commitment. Her ultimate goal is to highlight her blended background with projects that promote ethical and sustainable practices within the fashion and literary landscapes.