Harris says ‘hard work’ ahead to get infrastructure package through Congress

Vice President Harris on Monday acknowledged the tough road ahead for President Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure package, but said the administration is committed to getting the proposal through Congress.

The sweeping infrastructure package includes funding for roads and bridges, broadband and clean drinking water.

“The president and I are determined to get this done and like you, like Americans everywhere, we are not afraid of the hard work it will take,” Harris said during a speech at Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro, N.C.

The proposal introduced last month faces an uphill battle in securing support from congressional Republicans, due in large part to Biden’s goal of raising the corporate tax rate to pay for the eventual legislation.

Biden is slated to meet with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Monday to discuss his infrastructure package.

Harris said in Greensboro that the infrastructure plan will keep the U.S. competitive globally, build up local communities, and put more people back to work following the coronavirus recession.

“It will have a big impact on communities. It will have a big impact on people’s quality of life at home,” she said, mentioning that it will fund broadband expansion and replace lead pipe water service lines.

Harris was joined by Gov. Roy Cooper (D), Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan. She is set to tour Thomas Built Buses, a manufacturer of electric school buses, in North Carolina before returning to Washington on Monday evening.

She said the majority of jobs that the proposal aims to create would require no more than six months of training after high school. Harris added that she wants to expand on higher education to include a variety of opportunities after high school, like training programs, apprenticeships and technical colleges.

“There isn’t only one path to success,” she said, adding that women should also receive the same opportunities.

“Hard hats are actually unisex,” Harris quipped. 

Additionally, Harris stressed the importance of strong unions and that every worker should be able to organize or join a union.