Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Strengthening Our Recovery And Creating The Jobs Of The Future With The Big, Bold Investment Of President Biden’s Infrastructure And Jobs Bill
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding President Biden’s infrastructure and jobs plan that would build on the historic American Rescue Plan and solidify our recovery. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
Over the last several months, the Biden Administration has said that it will push a comprehensive infrastructure and jobs bill in coordination with Congress. The effort could not come at a better time.
The American Rescue Plan is already delivering on its promise to lift the country out of the COVID crisis and set our economy back on the path to recovery.
Over the state work period, I visited scores of restaurants, like Essie’s in Mount Carmel, and Russo’s Grill in Amsterdam, that are now receiving a crucial lifeline of assistance from the American Rescue Plan. I visited small independent stages and venues, like the Bug Jar in Rochester, which will soon receive grants through the Save our Stages Act. And I met with community organizations to hear about how New York families are receiving thousands of dollars per child through the expanded Child Tax Credit—they will be receiving that—and that’s a policy which is going to lift millions of American children out of poverty during a time of economic hardship for so many.
The American Rescue Plan is helping the country recover from the worst public health crisis in a century, and the worst economic crisis in three-quarters of a century. Now—not later—now is the time to build on that solid foundation to create jobs and cement a robust recovery.
The next big step is a long overdue investment—a large and significant investment—in our nation’s infrastructure.
We know that our nation’s roads, bridges, railways, waterways, and ports are in need of an overhaul. So too does our country need investment in modern infrastructure projects like our electric grid, broadband internet access, and 5G, just to name a few. President Biden’s proposal will address both our traditional infrastructure needs and invest in the 21st Century infrastructure projects that America sorely needs.
Again, this very important work should be bipartisan. This is an issue that affects all 50 states. Our two parties used to agree on the need to reliably invest in infrastructure. We should be able to do that again.
President Biden is hosting bipartisan discussions about his proposal at the White House today, and will continue to bring lawmakers and stakeholders together to find common ground. I know that the administration is going to talk to members from both sides of the aisle to incorporate their ideas.
Every day—every day now—millions of Americans are getting the vaccine, 4 million on one day over the weekend—and we are closer than ever to defeating the COVID-19 pandemic. The worst of COVID-19 is hopefully in the rear view mirror. The streets of New York City this weekend, as I wandered about, were more alive than I had seen them in months.
Soon we will have an opportunity to work together to strengthen our recovery and create the jobs of the future. A big, bold investment in our nation’s infrastructure is just the way to do it.
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