PRESS CALL: Florida Leaders Highlight Biden’s Infrastructure Announcement and Impacts on Climate and Jobs in Florida
Washington D.C. – Today, in a press call, Chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14,) Florida State Senator Annette Taddeo, CLEO Institute Executive Director Yoca Arditi-Rocha and Betsy Marville, RN, Nurse Representative for Florida’s SEIU 1199 talked about the need for President Biden’s American Jobs Plan and its implications for the future of Florida’s infrastructure and economic development. The investments outlined in Biden’s plan would boost the state’s economy, create thousands of good-paying union jobs, and improve the quality of life for hard-working families in Florida.
Nearly 7-in-10 voters across the country and in key states want Congress to pass a major recovery package with trillions of dollars in investments in clean energy and infrastructure. A majority of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans all support President Biden’s plan for investments in infrastructure and clean energy that meets the moment. And polling shows that the more people hear about the American Jobs Plan, the more they like it.
“It’s so important that we look for long-term solutions that will safeguard public health and protect our communities. That’s why we need to pass President Biden’s American jobs plan. It will make generational investments to boost infrastructure including our water systems, wastewater systems, and it will help to reclaim polluted sites all across America,” said Congresswoman Castor. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make the investments we need, not just to keep Florida special but to build a stronger foundation for our kids while we put our neighbors to work, and rebuilding our infrastructure.”
“Florida and Miami cannot wait, we need to invest in our clean energy infrastructure so we can generate good-paying jobs and we have a plan to do it in a way that will create economic opportunity and help solve the crisis at hand,” Said Senator Taddeo. “Florida can be the leader in implementing infrastructure projects that make us more resilient and allow us to truly build back better with the jobs of the future.”.
“We owe it to our children to work together and address the climate crisis while creating opportunities for those communities that have historically been hit the hardest by its consequences,” said The CLEO Institute’s Executive Director, Yoca Arditi-Rocha. “The good news is that we finally have a federal plan to address the climate in this area. The American jobs plan is ambitious and will provide people in vulnerable communities with forty percent of the benefits of rebuilding our much-needed infrastructure.”
“We believe that we will only be able to adequately address the multiple crises of climate economic, and racial justice through legislation that is bold and ambitious Said SEIU Representative Registered Nurse Betsy Marville. “Healthcare workers in long-term care, in hospitals must be ready to provide care during hurricanes, floods, and fires. Our hospitals and nursing homes are economic engines in their communities and they are a large part of our infrastructure.”
A recording of the call is available, here.