Biden signs $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, fulfilling campaign promise and notching achievement
Source: Washington Post
President Biden on Monday signed into law a sweeping $1.2 trillion infrastructure measure, notching an achievement that had long eluded his predecessor in the White House, Donald Trump. Republicans and Democrats gathered at the White House on Monday as Biden signed the legislation, which is aimed at improving the country’s roads, bridges, pipes, ports and Internet connections. Trump had repeatedly tried and failed to secure a bipartisan infrastructure deal.
“Here in Washington, we’ve heard countless speeches, promises and white papers from experts. But today, we’re finally getting this done,” Biden said. Vice President Harris and several lawmakers spoke ahead of Biden at the ceremony, including Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio). “This is what can happen when Republicans and Democrats decide we’re going to work together to get something done,” Portman said. Harris said the infrastructure push “will be a nationwide effort, the likes of which we have not seen in a generation.”
She also urged lawmakers to pass the Build Back Better plan, a second package that aims to overhaul the country’s health-care, education, immigration, climate and tax laws. The House is expected to take up the measure this week. Sinema thanked Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), calling them “the Wonder Women of our group, always focused on the practical outcomes.” Several Republicans, including Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (La.) and Mitt Romney (Utah) and Rep. Tom Reed (N.Y.), were also in attendance.
The mood at the ceremony on the White House lawn was celebratory, with members of Congress expressing gratitude for the cooperation of those across the aisle — a rare occurrence. Biden, who has often spoken longingly about the days of compromise and consensus, seemed in good spirits as he touted the benefits of the new law and the bipartisan manner in which it was achieved — with no mention of the vitriol that Trump and his supporters have lodged at the Republicans who voted for the infrastructure bill.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-poised-to-sign-12-trillion-infrastructure-bill-fulfilling-campaign-promise-and-notching-achievement-that-eluded-trump/2021/11/15/1b69f9a6-4638-11ec-b8d9-232f4afe4d9b_story.html
Full headline: Biden signs $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, fulfilling campaign promise and notching achievement that eluded Trump
Original article -
(CNN)President Joe Biden on Monday signed into law a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package and marked the major legislative victory at a White House event with lawmakers from both parties.The legislation will deliver $550 billion of new federal investments in America's infrastructure over five years, including money for roads, bridges, mass transit, rail, airports, ports and waterways.
The package includes a $65 billion investment in improving the nation's broadband infrastructure and invests tens of billions of dollars in improving the electric grid and water systems. Another $7.5 billion would go to building a nationwide network of plug-in electric vehicle chargers, according to the bill text.
The bill, first passed by the Senate in a 69 to 30 vote in August, was ultimately passed by the House, including 13 Republican lawmakers, on November 5. Congress returned to Washington Monday after a weeklong recess to a bevy of critical issues before the holidays, including passing Biden's broader economic and climate agenda, funding the government before a December 3 deadline, and raising the debt limit.
The ceremony comes as Biden is facing slumping poll numbers ahead of next year's critical midterm elections following a bruising gubernatorial loss for Democrats in Virginia earlier this month. Discontent over the pandemic and resulting economic problems -- including record inflation -- are contributing to Biden's lagging popularity, a new ABC-Washington Post poll out over the weekend put the President's approval rating at 41% approve, 53% disapprove. The signing ceremony marked a rare bipartisan gathering, with state and local officials attending from both sides of the aisle.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/15/politics/biden-signing-ceremony-infrastructure-bill-white-house/index.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
but I want to change it out since WaPo shockingly had a more upbeat article (but I know many DUers complain about the paywall)! 
is good for ratings. 
That's how you can confirm the hard skew to the right. 
And if called out on that discrepancy of coverage, they would merely try to deflect and ignore that what Murphy did was "unprecedented", instead claiming that the race was "closer than expected". 
so if these helps ease the bottlenecks at the ports and they see benefits in energy, water and broadband then it could help us in the midterms. We have a whole year. Let's not waste it on gloom and doom.
I know there is so much work that needs to be done. 
A yr or so ago gov lee gave Memphis 1mil for roads, out of something like $25 mil. This for the most populated area of this bassackwards state, with roads, even interstates, that are literally like off roading. 
For TN, this is what they had if you want to peruse (PDF) - https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/TENNESSEE_Infrastructure-Investment-and-Jobs-Act-State-Fact-Sheet.pdf
Having dug through multiple pages since, I think that was the latest update to the expected funding allocations.
State allocation will do absolutely nothing for Memphis.
Lee hates Memphis. 
Ty again! 
Since there were mayors at the signing ceremony, it's possible the way the law is written, funding might actually be directed to certain metro areas specifically. I have not even fathomed finding time to dig through the details but Congress will often be very specific down to what type of project and where, due to them knowing what happens with some states and their governors and/or legislatures (that was done when dealing with the ACA).
If Steve Cohen is your Congressman, you know he is going to hustle for something since he was heavily involved in drafting it - https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/passing-infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act
Tyvvvm. Gives me some hope!
but he is an absolute firebrand!!!! I have watched his fiery speeches on the House floor many times. 
Plus he is actually on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee so... 
Ty so much for sharing this!
He knows, then how rotten lee and the roads are.
Imaging running down the interstate at 65 mph, hitting a 4" piece of angle iron sticking up out of an expansion joint. Ya, that physically broke the inside of my alternator & a strut mount. Just 1 teeny example of many.
Ty so much again.
(and I have been to Memphis a bunch of years ago) was when that I-40 bridge going over the Mississippi had to close for 3 months - https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/02/us/memphis-hernando-desoto-bridge-reopen/index.html
That's exactly the type of thing that needs to be addressed for all the bridges going over that river to Arkansas. With all the traffic that the "old bridge" had to take during that period, that one and any of the other older ones really need to be looked at for structural stress.
Crossing fingers for you guys!!! 
At least those who do not use that bridge often.
I saw an interesting article on the bridge issue. I just skimmed it but looks like that bridge was defective shortly after it was built.
Not really too surprising, tbh..😏
I'll try to find it & post if I find it.
I wonder if it was one of those pre-fab bridges? 
(although some in Arkansas may be commuting there to the "big city" like people in Jersey commute over here to Philly across the Delaware River).
But it was the truck traffic that uses those bridges. FedEx has a huge hub there in Memphis and I expect that bridge closure was impacting the FedEx ground distribution out of that hub. Right there is "supply chain" stuff that would need to be shored up.
It was initially pretty bad, but I think they found another way around it.
(sorry
)
Not $14/hour, more like $45. And up to 20 million new jobs also created by the constructive synergy of the Democrats' American Jobs Plan
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