President Joe Biden is touting bipartisanship after the House passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.
During an event at the White House on Monday, Biden said, “I promised that we couldn’t just build back to what it was before. We literally had to build back better. We’re the only country that’s always come out of great crises stronger than when we went in.”
“The world has changed, and we have to be ready. My fellow Americans, today I want you to know we hear you, and we see you. The bill I’m about to sign into law is proof that despite the cynics, Democrats and Republicans can come together and deliver results. We can do this. We can deliver real results for real people,” he continued.
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Biden says bipartisan infrastructure bill shows the parties can work together to meet Americans' needs: "The bill I'm about to sign into law is proof that despite the cynics, Democrats and Republicans can come together and deliver results. We can do this." https://t.co/jZAlks9FOG pic.twitter.com/9RlMqmfzVb
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 15, 2021
The bill signing comes over a week after the House passed the roughly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package, capping a months-long process.
In total, 13 House Republicans and 19 Senate Republicans voted for the bill.
As CNBC reports, “The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act would put $550 billion in new money into transportation projects, the utility grid, and broadband. The package includes $110 billion for roads, bridges and other major projects, along with $66 billion for passenger and freight rail and $39 billion for public transit.”
It also “would put $65 billion into broadband, a priority for many lawmakers after the coronavirus pandemic highlighted inequities in internet access for households and students across the country. The legislation would also invest $55 billion into water systems, including efforts to replace lead pipes.”
While 32 Republican lawmakers voted for the bill, some of their colleagues have voiced frustration with their decision to back the legislation.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) called for the House members who voted for the bill to be removed from their committee assignments.
And Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on Fox News, “What those Republicans did is they breathed life into it. They gave Joe Biden a political win.”
“He’ll now go across the country touting, ‘Look at this big bipartisan win.’ And that additional momentum, unfortunately, makes it more likely that they whip their Democrats into shape and pass some multi-trillion-dollar spending bill on top of this that will include, unfortunately, trillions in new taxes. That’s what the stakes are all about. I still hope it doesn’t happen,” he added.
