At the start of the Asian session on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that both parties had reached an agreement for the final passage of the infrastructure bill.
Behind the bipartisan negotiations were two influential Republicans who supported Biden: Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader from Kentucky, and Senator Rob Portman from Ohio. Both hope this bill will be approved because many of their voters travel daily across the Brent Spence Bridge.
For Biden, this 2,702-page Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is not only a political victory but also highly symbolic. He compared it to Roosevelt's 'New Deal,' calling it 'the most significant long-term investment in American infrastructure in nearly a century.' He stated:
"We need to show people that democracy can deliver good results."
Much remains to be rebuilt
In fact, America’s infrastructure has long been in dire need of renovation. Many bridges, railways, waterways, tunnels, and above-ground power grids are on the brink of collapse, with some areas still operating at last century’s standards.
Research shows that over 42 million Americans lack broadband access or cannot afford it, forcing them to rely on places like libraries, schools, or McDonald's for internet access. One-fifth of the nation’s highways need repair or refurbishment, totaling nearly 280,000 kilometers. Around 45,000 bridges are in disrepair, many located in rural areas.
Biden also hopes to invest $55 billion in building new drinking water pipelines, $39 billion in public transportation, and $25 billion for airports...