A snatch victory. And a success, half-hearted but still noticed, for Joe Biden. The House of Representatives adopted, late Friday evening, a vast project to build and renovate infrastructure across the country, for an amount of $ 1.2 trillion. The text, already adopted by the Senate, is only waiting for the signature of the American president. The Democrats, who obtained 228 votes (it took 218 for the plan to be adopted), against 206 against, were able to count on the support of a few votes from the ranks of the Republicans.
Hailed as the most ambitious plan in recent US history, the project illustrates Joe Biden’s desire to fix the country after the Trump years, and alleviate “middle-class American” anxiety ” globalization, “as the Democratic President said on Friday.
- What does the adopted draft contain?
A gigantic envelope intended for roads, bridges, public transport networks, drinking water reserves … The program voted by Congress is gigantic in many respects. Ambitious, sometimes compared to Roosevelt’s “New Deal” or to the digging of the Erie Canal, which at the beginning of the 19th century linked New York to the Great Lakes, it aims to make up for the delay in American public investment.
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The country’s roads will thus benefit from an envelope of 110 billion dollars. The focus will be on “climate change mitigation, resilience, equity and safety for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians”, recently detailed the White House. Almost 40 billion will also be spent on bridges, their repair or replacement.
Transport will not be left out: 66 billion will be intended for the modernization of the rail infrastructure and the creation of new lines between cities, and in particular the high-speed train. The rivers, canals and ports of the country will be endowed with 17 billion. Airports, $ 25 billion.
The ecological transition is also present in this vast plan: a national network of recharging stations for electric cars will be built. Areas contaminated by toxic waste, old abandoned mines, water pipes containing lead will benefit from 36 billion euros. The text also provides $ 65 billion for the construction of new lines that will transport electricity produced from renewable energy.
- Why is it a half-win for Joe Biden?
Two texts were put to the vote of the House of Representatives on Friday. The first, on infrastructure, was won by a narrow majority – 228 votes against 206. The second provides for a major overhaul of the social protection system and a section on the fight against global warming, for an amount of nearly 1,750 billion dollars. Called “Build back better”, the plan provides in particular for access to nursery school for all children, a profound improvement in health coverage, and significant investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This second part was not adopted. In the House, Democrats were divided on the financial aspect of the text. The centrist wing of the party thus demanded details on the costing of the project. The parliamentary process has, however, been set in motion, and Joe Biden is hoping for a green light from the House by November 15, before the text reaches the Senate. It could then be radically changed, in view of the very narrow Democratic majority in the Senate.
- Why are these projects important to the Democratic president?
Joe Biden was elected on the promise of appeasement of the country, after four years of chaotic presidency of Donald Trump. “As we pass these laws, we will make it clear to Americans: we hear your voices, we will invest in your hopes, help you secure a better future for yourself and your families, and ensure America comes out on top.” the Democrat said on Friday.
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The White House repeats it regularly: the multiple expenses incurred by the executive are popular with Americans. The fact remains that since this summer and the withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan, Joe Biden’s popularity has continued to plummet. His reformist will could thus come up against the ballot box: the “midterms”, the midterm elections during which the Democrats will call into play their narrow majority in Congress, in a year, will also be played out on the first balance sheet of the Democratic president.
