President Joe Biden traveled to Michigan on Tuesday, warning that the United States risks losing its edge in the global economy if Congress doesn’t pass his twin economic packages. Biden hit the road again to stump for the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan, which has been stalled in the House by Democratic progressives who want to see a separate $3.5 trillion spending plan approved in Congress.
Biden said during remarks in Howell, Mich., after touring the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324 training facility: “These bills are about competitiveness versus complacency. We risk losing our edge as a nation. Our infrastructure used to be the best in the world, literally, not figuratively. Today, according to the world economic forum, we rank 13th. … All those investments that fueled a strong economy, we’ve taken our foot off the gas. The world has taken notice, by the way, including our adversaries and now they’re closing the gap in a big way.”
The Senate has already passed the infrastructure bill, but the legislation has been slowed in the House by progressives who are using it as leverage for the larger spending package, which is part of Biden’s social and economic agenda. Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate have voiced support for the infrastructure bill, but moderate Democrats such as Rep. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, have balked at the $3.5 trillion cost of the spending blueprint, which calls for the money to be spent on healthcare, education, climate change measures and other social programs.
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