Biden signs $ 1.2 trillion US infrastructure bill | Business and Economic News

A second bill – Biden’s ‘Build Better’ plan – is expected to be debated in Congress this week.

President Joe Biden signed a $ 1.2 trillion bill infrastructure investment plan It became law in the White House, offering a positive outlook for what is improving the U.S. economy but still hurting it, and calling for the advancement of its ambitious legislative agenda.

“My message is to the American people, America is moving again,” Biden said Monday, promising the U.S. public that “your life will change for the better.”

With some Republican lawmakers on hand in the White House lawn, Biden applauded what could be the last show of Washington’s bipartisanship ahead of the 2022 congressional election.

The President hopes to use the new investments in roads, bridges and electric vehicles to rebuild his reputation, which has been dealt a blow amid rising inflation and COVID-19’s ongoing challenges for the US.

Biden promised as president that he would promote unity between divided Democrats and Republicans in Congress to do things for the good of the country. But his job admission grade There has been a decline in the U.S. public in recent months as the Democratic majority in Congress struggles to implement its proposals.

The infrastructure bill signed on Monday proved an exception to the partisan blockade in Washington. Republicans in the House of Representatives and Senate joined Democrats in favor of passing the bill.

Faced with Biden’s great reputation, the White House plans to move out of Washington to sell the victory more widely in the coming days. He will travel to New Hampshire on Tuesday to visit a bridge on the state’s “red list” for urgent repairs.

Biden will visit General Motors ’electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit on Wednesday to promote investments in infrastructure bills at electric vehicle charging stations.

“We see it as an opportunity because we know the president’s agenda is quite popular,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said before signing it on Monday.

Outreach to voters “can go beyond the legislative process to talk about how this will help them. And we hope that will have an impact. ”

But Biden’s $ 1.75 trillion budget package has stalled tax increases and social spending amid internal Democrats ’struggles and staunch Republican opposition, questioning his predictions.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she hopes to approve the budget plan in the House this week, and would send the bill to the Senate for consideration.

Biden needs the help of Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia centrist who has a key vote among Democrats.

Senator Joe Manchin, on the right, went to sign a $ 1.2 trillion infrastructure bill from President Joe Biden, but it has been an obstacle to Biden’s $ 1.75 trillion larger budget plan. [Susan Walsh/AP Photo]

Positioning himself as a fiscal conservative, Manchin has expressed concern about the additional government spending that is already surpassing trillions of U.S. spending to address COVID-19.

Rising inflation There is growing concern in the U.S. and around the world that the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks may have to raise interest rates, putting a brake on economic growth after the outages caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

White House economic adviser Brian Deese He said on Sunday that the rise in prices was a global problem caused by the coronavirus pandemic and not a consequence of Biden’s economic policies.

Administration officials argue that by proposing higher taxes to pay Biden’s social agenda, the budget bill would not add to inflationary pressures.

Biden went to the port of Baltimore last week to highlight how his administration handles it supply chain constraints, the concern of workers facing new rising energy and food prices.