On the second anniversary of President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison released the following statement: 

“Two years ago, President Biden delivered on his promise to reach across the aisle and repair our nation’s crumbling infrastructure when he signed the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Over the last two years, communities across America have been reaping the benefits: repaved roads and rebuilt bridges, renewed transportation programs, clean drinking water, expanded access to high speed internet, and so much more. Under Donald Trump, ‘infrastructure week’ was an empty punchline – but now even Republicans who voted against the president’s landmark legislation are trying to claim credit for the projects it made possible. This legislation is a testament to President Biden’s vision for stronger, safer communities and his ability to get things done where others have failed – and it’s yet another reason why Americans will send President Biden and Vice President Harris back to the White House to finish the job.”

Two years ago, President Biden signed the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – investing billions to update our nation’s roads and bridges, renew our transportation networks, and ensure every American has clean drinking water and access to high-speed internet. 

Associated Press: “President Joe Biden signed his hard-fought $1 trillion infrastructure deal into law Monday before a bipartisan, celebratory crowd on the White House lawn, declaring that the new infusion of cash for roads, bridges, ports and more is going to make life ‘change for the better’ for the American people.”

Reuters: “‘Finally, infrastructure week!’ Biden says, cheering $1 trillion bill”

Baltimore Sun: “Federal rail infrastructure money to help pay for Baltimore tunnel, Maryland bridge replacements and Penn Station face-lift” 

Reuters: “Biden offers millions and hope for delayed Hudson River tunnel project”

Cincinnati Enquirer: “‘We can get things done’: Biden praises bipartisanship and Brent Spence Bridge project” 

Pennsylvania Capital-Star: “Biden administration sends millions to states for bridge repair, replacement”

Under Donald Trump’s administration, “infrastructure week” was a long-running joke – with years and years of empty promises and failed plans to fix our nation’s crumbling infrastructure.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: “Administration officials claim that the President’s new infrastructure plan will support $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investment, but his 2019 budget reveals that that number’s a mirage: the President would cut annual federal support for infrastructure in the long run and shift costs to states, cities, and private individuals. As we previewed here, it likely would mean cuts to some of the areas in which new infrastructure investment is needed most — while providing a potential windfall for private investors.” 

Washington Post: “Trump’s 2016 campaign pledges on infrastructure have fallen short, creating opening for Biden”

New York Times: “How ‘Infrastructure Week’ Became a Long-Running Joke”

“At this point in the Trump presidency, ‘Infrastructure Week’ is less a date on the calendar than it is a ‘Groundhog Day’-style fever dream doomed to be repeated.

“Roughly two years after the White House first came up with the idea of discussing, for all of seven days, the pursuit of a bipartisan agreement to rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges and broadband networks, President Trump more or less torpedoed those plans on Wednesday in a Rose Garden speech.”

CNN: “Like the Bermuda Triangle or Spinal Tap’s new drummer, the words ‘Infrastructure Week’ seem to be cursed. No fewer than seven times – including this very week – has Trump’s White House declared that its chosen theme of a week would be infrastructure – only to see those plans thwarted, often by the President himself.”

Even after Trump left office, he railed against bipartisan efforts to turn his failed “infrastructure week” into President Biden’s historic “infrastructure decade.” 

Politico: “Donald Trump tried and failed to pass an infrastructure bill so many times over the course of his presidency that his attempts were reduced to a punchline. Now out of office, Trump is trying to ensure that his successor, Joe Biden, suffers the indignity of the ‘infrastructure week’ jokes as well.

“The former president has sounded off repeatedly in the past week about the negotiations taking place between Senate Republicans and Democrats on the Hill and in the White House. He’s encouraged GOP lawmakers to abandon the talks and criticized Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for even entertaining them. Senate Republicans have said, in interviews, that they have directly asked the former president not just to tone down his criticism but to actually support the infrastructure deal.”

Ron DeSantis railed against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as “pork-barrel spending,” but he’s had no problem touting federal funding for infrastructure projects as his own… even though he has President Biden to thank. 

WPTV: “After calling the federal legislation ‘pork-barrel spending’ on Monday, DeSantis questioned whether Florida’s $19.1 billion was fair compared to other states … ‘Is Florida being treated well in this?’ DeSantis said while speaking at a news conference in Spring Hill. ‘Or, are they basically funneling money to a bunch of very, very high tax and dysfunctional states?’”

Orlando Sentinel: “Gov. Ron DeSantis has been on a spending spree for months, taking credit for millions of dollars in federal stimulus money he’s handing out to mostly rural Republican counties while at the same time bashing President Joe Biden’s big government spending. Federal bucks have bolstered the state budget for two years in a row, shoring up the state’s reserves, and funding such things as the governor’s job growth program, climate ‘resiliency’ against rising waters, road projects, broadband expansion, college training programs and tax cuts.”

Rolling Stone: “DeSantis Brags About Florida Budget That Includes Billions In Federal Funds He Opposed”

Nikki Haley decided to slam fellow Republicans for working with President Biden to pass the historic bill, writing off billions in investments to update America’s infrastructure as a “publicity stunt” and “nothing” to celebrate. 

Fox News: “Former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley slammed Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s upcoming appearance with President Biden as a ‘publicity stunt’ and said the bipartisan infrastructure law that is reportedly serving as the basis of the event is ‘nothing’ to celebrate.”

Haley also pushed to eliminate our nation’s main infrastructure funding source and replace it with … nothing. 

CNN: “Dubbed ‘The Freedom Plan,’ Haley’s proposal would eliminate the federal gas and reduce income tax rates, make small-business tax relief permanent, and end certain tax deductions such as the deduction for state and local income taxes, also known as SALT. Haley, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Clemson University, often touts her financial background on the campaign trail, telling voters, ‘It’s time to put an accountant in the White House.’” 

“Haley believes funding for infrastructure projects should come from general revenues, forcing them to compete with other spending priorities. Additionally, her plan would place a limit on federal spending, linked to a percentage of the economy.”