ICYMI: ON PENNSYLVANIA VISIT, PRESIDENT BIDEN TOUTS BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW — A HISTORIC INVESTMENT THAT GOP LEGISLATORS AND CANDIDATES OPPOSE

While Mr. Biden has turned his promises into action to help Pennsylvania workers, Republicans are not only trying to obstruct progress: They also have no plans of their own to lower costs and create more good paying jobs.” – Darrin Kelly, president of the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council

PENNSYLVANIA — While Republicans spend their time obsessing over Trumpian litmus tests in the messy and crowded “Super MAGA” primary and refusing to support (and even fundraising off their opposition to) historic investments in Pennsylvania communities, Democrats are delivering for Pennsylvanians — a message that President Biden emphasized yesterday during his trip to Pittsburgh to highlight the importance of the bipartisan infrastructure law and its more than $17 billion investment in the commonwealth.

Some of the many highlights of this much-needed investment include $1.6B in initial bridge funding in Pennsylvania with an added $1.6 billion from the Bridge Formula Program, at least $100 million to improve broadband across the state, $11.3 billion for Pennsylvania roads, $1.4 billion to improve water infrastructure, and the creation of tens of thousands of union jobs.

“Pennsylvania has 3,353 bridges in need of repair and at least 394,000 people across the state currently lack access to broadband. These are some of the real problems facing communities across the commonwealth — and some of the many reasons why the GOP gubernatorial candidates’ opposition to this historic investment is so disappointing. They have no plan to help Pennsylvanians,” said Pennsylvania Democratic Party spokesperson Marisa Nahem. “Instead of improving our roads and bridges, increasing access to broadband, and lowering costs for Pennsylvania families, the far-right GOP candidates are busy championing election conspiracies, attacking reproductive rights, and promoting extreme anti-worker policies to please the MAGA base.”

In case you missed it, check out some of the coverage of President Biden’s visit to Pittsburgh — and the many reasons why the bipartisan infrastructure law is a “game-changer” for Pennsylvania.

KDKA: At Site Of Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse, President Joe Biden Promises To ‘Fix Them All’

01/28/22

Biden highlighted the infrastructure law’s $1.6 billion for Pennsylvania’s bridges over the next five years, saying the money will fund repairs on the collapsed bridge, which affects a major thoroughfare for residents.

“Next time, we don’t need headlines saying someone was killed in a bridge collapse,” Biden said when he took the podium. He vowed to rebuild the bridge and thousands of others across the country.

Biden also talked about revitalizing manufacturing, creating union jobs and strengthening the nation’s supply chains, lauding job growth. He said there’s been a rise in manufacturing jobs, some of which include investments by companies to start building more electric cards.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: ‘We’ve got to move’: Bridge collapse provides backdrop for President Biden’s infrastructure talk in Pittsburgh

By Mick Stinelli and Julian Routh, 01/28/22

Standing in front of an America flag positioned at the end of a large, vacant industrial space, Mr. Biden opened his remarks by talking about the morning’s affairs, rattling off statistics about poor bridge conditions across the country and especially here in Pennsylvania. He said it’s “simply unacceptable” that bridges are in such a state of disrepair, noting that local officials have been saying for years that something needs to change.

“We finally got it done,” Mr. Biden said, touting the passage of the $1 trillion infrastructure package and its $1.6 billion for bridges in Pennsylvania alone over the next five years.

WESA: Biden says bridge collapse underscores need and opportunity for infrastructure investments

By An-Li Herring, 01/28/22

In Pittsburgh Friday, President Joe Biden said the collapse of a bridge in the city’s Frick Park early Friday morning exemplified in stark and regrettable terms the need for historic investments in the nation’s infrastructure.

“A bridge, more than 50 years old … collapsed right here in Pittsburgh. It had been rated in poor condition for the past 10 years,” Biden said at Carnegie Mellon University’s Mill 19 in Hazelwood.

“There are another 3,300 bridges here in Pennsylvania, some of which are just as old and just as decrepit,” he continued. “It’s just simply unacceptable.”

Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘We can’t slow down’: In Pgh, Biden talks infrastructure, manufacturing and supply chain disruptions

By Cassie Miller, 01/28/22

“All of these investments are about one thing,” Biden said, “empowering more cities and towns to do what you’re doing right here in Pittsburgh.”

Increased productivity here in the U.S., Biden said, will ease the burden on the middle class and provide “a little bit of breathing room” from inflation caused by supply chain issues. 

“We can’t slow down,” he said of the efforts outlined in the Build Back Better Plan. “We need to ease the burden on working families.”

City & State PA: Biden touts infrastructure funding after Pittsburgh bridge collapse

By Justin Sweitzer, 01/28/22

“As the mayor of this city it made me feel proud that the president of the United States had our back and said that he will do whatever he can to help us restore that bridge,” Gainey said. “So when we talk about infrastructure dollars, and how important infrastructure is, that is a prime example why this bill is so important.”

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According to a fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania is set to receive a total of $13 billion over five years for highway and bridge repairs. The commonwealth will receive an additional $66 million for highway safety programs and $3.2 billion to improve public transportation. 

Biden also said the infrastructure legislation will help combat climate change by investing in electric vehicle charging stations. 

“When you build these stations, what happens is like when you build a gas station on the highway – other things grow around it,” Biden said. “You’re gonna see communities grow as a consequence, making us more globally competitive in the future of electric vehicles, while helping fight climate change.”

The infrastructure law allocates a total of $7.5 billion to build a national network of electric vehicle charges and Pennsylvania will receive roughly $172 million over five years to expand access to electric vehicle charging locations in the state.

TribLive: Biden touts infrastructure importance in Pittsburgh visit after bridge collapse

By Ryan Deto, 01/28/22

With foundations literally crumbling in Pittsburgh on Friday after a bridge in Frick Park collapsed, President Joe Biden visited the city to tout the importance of infrastructure funding recently allocated by Congress.

In front of a crowd of invited guests and media at Carnegie Mellon University’s Mill 19 research and development center in Hazelwood, Biden praised the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passed late last year and the work being done in Pittsburgh in advanced manufacturing and robotics.

“Right here in Pittsburgh, the future is being built on the foundation of this city’s storied past,” said Biden.

POLITICO: Biden promotes his plan to repair bridges after dramatic collapse in Pennsylvania

By Quint Forgey and Claire Rafford, 01/28/22

“This is the first time in the country’s history that we dedicated a national program to repair and upgrade bridges,” Biden said. “It’s about time.”

Biden said the funding from the infrastructure bill will make a difference for Pennsylvania.

“We’re going to rebuild that bridge, along with thousands of other bridges in Pennsylvania and across the country because it’s in our interests for our own safety’s sake and it generates commerce in a way that we can’t do now,” Biden said. “That’s part of how we’re going to build a better America.”

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