[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 14, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H1743]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             INFRASTRUCTURE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Costa). The Chair recognizes the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, during times of crisis and upheaval, 
societies have a unique opportunity to reimagine themselves, to fix 
wrongs, and to make themselves better than they were previously. The 
pandemic of 1917 created the Roaring Twenties. The aftermath of the 
Civil War brought railroads, canals, and bridges to connect us. The 
Great Depression gave us the New Deal.
  After the devastation of the COVID pandemic and the truth reveal of 
our systemic problems of racism, economic inequality, wealth and 
healthcare disparities, we must use this time and this opportunity to 
not only forge forward, but to correct wrongs. While the American 
Rescue Plan is changing the course of the pandemic and delivering 
relief for working families, this is not the time to build back the way 
things were. This is a moment to reimagine and rebuild a new economy.
  The American jobs plan is an investment in America that will create 
millions of good jobs, rebuild our country's infrastructure, and 
position this United States to outcompete China and other nations. The 
American jobs plan will invest in America in a way that we have not 
invested since we built the interstate highways and won the space race.
  The United States of America is the wealthiest country in the world, 
yet we rank 13th when it comes to overall quality of our 
infrastructure. Public domestic investment as a share of the economy 
has fallen more than 40 percent since the 1960s. After decades of 
disinvestment, our roads, bridges, and water systems are crumbling. Our 
electric grid is vulnerable to catastrophic outages. Too many lack 
access to affordable high-speed internet and to quality housing.
  The past year has led to job losses and threatened economic security, 
eroding more than 30 years of progress in women's labor force 
participation. It has unmasked the fragility of our caregivers' 
infrastructure. It has never been more important for us to invest in 
strengthening our infrastructure and our competitiveness, and in 
creating good paying union jobs of the future.
  This must include a 21st century infrastructure--deployment of 
broadband and closing the digital divide in this country--creating the 
modern bridge that will unite and create more economic and opportunity 
equity in our country.
  Unlike past major investments, President Biden's plan also 
prioritizes addressing longstanding and persistent racial injustice. 
The plan targets 40 percent of the benefit of climate and clean 
infrastructure investments to disadvantaged communities. The investment 
of $100 billion in broadband internet will be the component that will 
make America a leader, an innovator, once again.
  Broadband internet is the new electricity. It is necessary for 
Americans to do their jobs; to create jobs; to participate equally in 
school learning, healthcare, and to stay connected. It is estimated, 
however, that 10 percent--over 30 million Americans--live in areas 
where there is inadequate or no broadband infrastructure. Americans 
living in rural areas, on Tribal lands, and in the territories 
particularly lack adequate access. Even in our urban areas, many have 
stark differences in access to internet and to jobs.
  President Biden's American jobs plan is visionary and exactly what 
people across this country have been asking from our Nation's leaders 
for years, even decades. Representing the Virgin Islands, I am 
especially excited about his focus on building infrastructure that 
is resilient to our changing climate, electrifying our highway system, 
investing heavily in transit and other cleaner mobility options, and 
working to eliminate the digital divide.

  In announcing his plan, the President has taken our voices--the 
voices in Congress--and has put those words into action. The American 
jobs plan will not only make bold transformational investment in our 
Nation's transportation infrastructure, it will do so with an emphasis 
on creating good paying jobs, supporting American manufacturing, and 
investing in rural and urban communities alike.
  Earlier this year, the New Democrat Coalition unveiled our agenda for 
the first 100 days of the 117th Congress. The New Dems share the Biden-
Harris administration's vision to build back better, and we will work 
together to move our country forward.
  We must rebuild our communities and our economy better than before 
with the American jobs plan. Now is the time to think boldly with a 
once-in-a-century investment to create millions of good-paying jobs.

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