Biden and his team have begun discussions on the possible outlines of an infrastructure package with members of Congress, particularly mindful that Texas' recent struggles with power outages and water shortages after a brutal winter storm present an opportunity for agreement on sustained spending on infrastructure.
Gina McCarthy, Biden’s national climate adviser, told The Associated Press that the deadly winter storm in Texas should be a “wake-up call” for the need for more reliable and resilient energy systems and additional infrastructure.
“The infrastructure is not built to withstand these extreme weather conditions,” stated Liz Sherwood-Randall, a homeland security aide to the president. “We know that we can’t just react to extreme weather events. We need to plan for them and prepare for them.”
THE UNSEEN VICTIMS OF WAR: HOW RUSSIA'S INVASION LEFT THOUSANDS OF DISABLED UKRAINIANS IN PERIL
“Now is the time to be aggressive,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a former South Bend, Indiana, mayor who knows potholes.
WATCH: BYRON DONALDS ENGAGES WITH HAMAS SUPPORTERS
At a conference with state and local highway officials Thursday, he referred to the often-promised, never-achieved mega-initiative on roads, bridges and the like from the Trump administration.
“I know you are among those who are working and waiting most patiently, or maybe impatiently, for the moment when Infrastructure Week will no longer be a kind of Groundhog’s Day promise — but actually be something that delivers generational investments,” he said.
WATCH MAYOR ADAMS: "YOU DON'T TAKE OVER OUR BUILDINGS AND PUT ANOTHER FLAG UP"
Much of America's infrastructure is in dire need of major restoration after years of underfunding, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. In its 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, it graded the national infrastructure an overall D+.
WATCH: DOJ SET TO INDICT TEXAS DEMOCRAT REP.HENRY CUELLER, WHAT'S AT STAKE, YOU ASK?
Both chambers of Congress will use as starting points their unsuccessful efforts to get infrastructure bills through the last session.
THE HAWAII BILLIONAIRE BATTLE: MEET THE RECLUSIVE RICHEST MAN ON THE ISLAND...
Democrats passed a $1.5 trillion package in the House last year, but it went nowhere with the Trump administration and the Republican-led Senate. A Senate panel approved narrower bipartisan legislation in 2019 focused on reauthorizing federal transportation programs. This, too, burned out as the U.S. turned its focus to elections and COVID-19.
ISRAELI FATHER, BELIEVED TO BE A HAMAS HOSTAGE, CONFIRMED DEAD
Biden has spoken of bigger numbers, and some Democrats are urging him to bypass Republicans in the closely divided Congress to address a broader range of priorities urged by interest groups.
During the presidential campaign, Biden pledged to deploy $2 trillion on infrastructure and clean energy, but the White House has not ruled out an even higher price tag. McCarthy said Biden's upcoming plan will specifically aim at job creation, such as with investments to boost “workers that have been left behind” by closed coal mines or power plants, as well as communities located near polluting refineries and other hazards.
ELON MUSK ISSUES 'TROUBLESOME' WARNING TO U.S., BUT IS THERE ANY WEIGHT TO IT?
“He’s been a long fan of investing in infrastructure,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki concluded on Thursday.
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
