Statement: ‘The Only Infrastructure GOP Leaders Want to Build Are Roadblocks’
Washington, D.C. – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell recently said he is “100%” focused “on stopping” President Biden’s agenda. Just after leaving the Oval Office yesterday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told his supporters that “corrupt Joe Biden” is “planning to push his radical Socialist agenda onto the American people.” A recent analysis of the Senate GOP infrastructure offer found that it only includes 8% of the investments called for in the American Jobs Plan.
“The only infrastructure Republican leaders want to build are roadblocks,” said Climate Power executive director Lori Lodes. “Despite overwhelming bipartisan support for big, bold investments in clean energy and infrastructure jobs, Republican leaders in Congress have vowed to do everything in their power to stop us from putting millions of people back to work in good-paying, union jobs. Republicans continue to lay down redlines, including demanding that voters, not huge corporations and the wealthiest Americans, pay to upgrade our crumbling infrastructure. It’s time for Congress to ignore bad faith distractions and deliver the results that voters expect, our economy needs, and the climate crisis urgently demands.”
Labor, Environmental Justice, Progressive, and Climate Leaders Urge Immediate Action on $4 Trillion Infrastructure Package
In a letter sent to President Biden, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, and Speaker Pelosi today, labor, environmental justice, progressive, and climate leaders urged them “to seize this critical window of opportunity to pass bold jobs and economic investment legislation that responds to the interwoven crises facing this country.” The leaders added:
Now is the time to realize a bold agenda for the American people without delay or dilution. Facing deep economic insecurity, systemic oppression, polluted air and water, and climate disasters, millions of people across the country urgently need solutions as big as the crises we face. Those who argue for small-minded measures are on the wrong side of history. […]
Again, we appreciate the leadership of the White House and Congress in delivering the American Rescue Plan, two months ago, that has provided much-needed relief to communities still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in order to truly build back better, this down-payment in relief must be followed by bold and transformative investments in recovery. This is our moment to build a new economy with justice and prosperity for every community and a livable planet for future generations.
Organizations signing the letter included the BlueGreen Alliance, Center for American Progress, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform, International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers, International Union of Painters & Allied Trades, League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, The People’s Justice Council, Service Employees International Union, Sierra Club, Southeast Climate & Energy Network, Sunrise Movement, United Steelworkers, US Climate Action Network, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and the Working Families Party.
New Swing State and Battleground Polling Finds Overwhelming Support for Clean Energy and Climate Investments
New polling released today by the League of Conservation Voters and Data for Progress found overwhelming bipartisan support across the country for the investments the American Jobs Plan would make in climate, clean energy, good-paying union jobs and justice. Across 11 swing Congressional districts and in the swing Senate states of Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, the survey found:
- 78% of voters support the government making investments to create clean energy jobs.
- 73% of voters want Congress to take action to address climate change.
- 71% of voters support the American Jobs Plan.