Washington: After months of delay due to Democratic infighting over a social spending package, US President Joe Biden has signed a bipartisan USD1 trillion infrastructure measure into law.
"We've heard innumerable speeches and promises, white papers from experts here in Washington, but today we're finally getting this done," Biden said during a White House signing ceremony attended by members of Congress, governors, and mayors on Monday. So my message to the American people is this: America is moving again, and your life will improve," he stated.
Biden has appointed Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans, as a senior White House adviser to oversee the implementation of the infrastructure plan. The plan includes USD550 billion in new infrastructure expenditure for projects including roads, bridges, passenger rail, drinking water, and waste water systems. The balance of the infrastructure package is made up of spending that has already been approved.
The bill passed the Senate in August, but progressive House Democrats blocked it for months, demanding a vote on a larger social spending plan, which they never got. After progressive and moderate House Democrats promised to take up the USD1.75 trillion social spending package no later than the week of November 15, the House of Representatives eventually adopted the infrastructure bill earlier this month.
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