These 5 Latino leaders had strong words of support for President Biden’s infrastructure bill

Better roads, bridges and broadband internet will soon be coming your way after President Joe Biden signed into law the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It took months of negotiations before Congress could reach a deal, and Latino leaders are sharing their thoughts.

“My message to the American people is this: America is moving again and your life is going to change for the better,” Biden said during a signing ceremony Monday. “With this law, we focused on getting things done. I ran for president because the only way to move our country forward in my view was through compromise and consensus.”

Here’s a breakdown of what’s in the bill:

• $73 billion to upgrade the nation’s electricity grid.
• $66 billion for improved rail, including funding new rail lines.
• $65 billion to provide broadband internet for rural and Indigenous communities.
• $47 billion for climate resiliency against wildfires, hurricanes and flooding.
• $21 billion for environmental projects, such as cleaning up abandoned mines
• $15 billion for removing lead service lines and bringing water systems up to date.
• $7.5 billion for electric vehicles and increasing the availability of charging stations.
• $2 billion for transportation projects in underserved rural areas.

So, what did Latino members of Congress have to say about this historic investment?

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)

“Democrats have delivered infrastructure week in the first year, where Trump couldn’t in four years. Infrastructure and jobs are coming your way, America, thanks to Democrats and thanks to the Biden administration.”

Infrastructure week!! Dems delivering jobs and infrastructure!! pic.twitter.com/rl5DLRrLnw

— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) November 15, 2021

​​Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM)

“It will create so many jobs in our communities, and once we finish with this bill, we are going to move on to do the Build Back Better bill, because that’s the bill that’s for the people, para la gente. I can’t wait.”

Yesterday was an exciting day for our country!

Now it’s time to continue the investments para le gente through the Build Back Better Act. pic.twitter.com/0yL3DHwXdd

— Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (@RepTeresaLF) November 16, 2021

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY)

The fundamental difference between FDR’s New Deal & @POTUS Biden’s #BuildBackBetter is the emphasis on racial equity. There is no greater expression of racial equity than reconnecting neighborhoods that, for far too long, have been divided by racist highways. #CapTheCrossBronx pic.twitter.com/6QQrONaufG

— Rep. Ritchie Torres (@RepRitchie) November 14, 2021

Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX)

Infrastructure week is finally here!
 
Proud to join @POTUS at the White House as he signs the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law and delivers over $35 billion to rebuild Texas' crumbling and outdated infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/Y5WO0jBMaa

— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) November 15, 2021

Rep. Chuy García (D-IL)

It is great to see union workers and leaders speaking at the @WhiteHouse today, as @POTUS signs The Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act into law. This Infrastructure package makes historic investments in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure and creates millions of new jobs. https://t.co/BsSTd0mKQy

— Congressman Chuy García (@RepChuyGarcia) November 15, 2021

House Democrats could vote as soon as Thursday on Biden’s $1.75 trillion social spending bill.