Rep. Casten Applauds the American Jobs Plan
Downers Grove, IL — U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) today released the following statement after President Biden announced the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. The American jobs plan will invest in America's work-force, revitalize American manufacturing, ensure access to clean water, and build cleaner and more resilient energy and transportation sectors for generations to come.
The past year has unmasked the fragility of America's infrastructure, job security, persistent racial injustice, and the climate crisis. The American Jobs Plan will invest in Americans and deliver the jobs and opportunities they deserve, prioritizing equitable infrastructure investments to help tackle the climate crisis and fuel the transition to a clean energy economy.
Casten said, "The United States of America is the wealthiest country in the world, yet we rank 13th when it comes to our infrastructure. We have an opportunity to build an economy that's stronger, more equitable and positioned for growth and that means we need to make investments in clean energy infrastructure big and bold enough to do what's scientifically and economically necessary to lower emissions, spur innovation, and revitalize our energy sector. When President Biden said, ‘the divisions of the moment shouldn't stop us from doing the right thing for the future' he was absolutely right. It's past time we get this done."
The announced investments make progress on the following recommendations from the Climate Crisis Action Plan:
- Build a Cleaner and More Resilient Transportation Sector
- Invest in Water Infrastructure to Ensure Access to Clean Water
- Expand Access to and Ensure the Resilience of Broadband Infrastructure
- Create a Cleaner and More Resilient Electricity Sector
- Build and Upgrade Homes, Businesses, and Critical Public Buildings for Resilience, Energy Efficiency, and Emissions Reductions
- Drive Innovation, Domestic Manufacturing, and Deployment of Climate Solutions
- Invest in America's Workforce and Support Workers Through Economic and Energy Transitions
- Eliminate tax preferences for fossil fuels and make sure polluting industries pay for environmental cleanup (Rep. Casten recently introduced the End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act)
- Establish the U.S. as a leader in climate science, innovation and R&D
More information here.
Background:
In June of 2020, Casten and his Democratic colleagues on the select Committee on the Climate Crisis released the majority staff report Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America. This report included eight of Congressman Casten's bills and provided a roadmap for Congress—a Climate Crisis Action Plan—to build a prosperous, clean energy economy that values workers, advances environmental justice, and is prepared to meet the challenges of the climate crisis.