Top Biden adviser: Passing infrastructure deal is ‘urgent national security imperative’

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday said it’s imperative that Congress pass the bipartisan infrastructure deal finalized earlier this week.

“Passing this historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal into law is an urgent national security imperative for the United States,” Sullivan wrote in a memo released by the White House. “Investment in American infrastructure – when coupled with other investments in innovation and technology – will determine our long-term competitiveness with China and the rest of the world. They are critical to building our position of strength.”

A bipartisan group of senators reached a deal Wednesday after weeks of negotiating over the final details. The move comes about a month after Biden and the senators agreed to an infrastructure framework. 

“The world is watching closely to see if we can come together to deliver results for American workers, families, and businesses, and make long overdue investments in our infrastructure and competitiveness. Our competitors believe we will not, and as a result, are a nation in decline; it is our charge to prove them wrong,” Sullivan said Thursday.

He said the plan would strengthen U.S. supply chains and the resilience of critical infrastructure for climate change impacts, cyberattacks and extreme weather events.

Biden hailed the bipartisan deal this week, calling it a signal to the world that “our democracy can function, deliver and do big things.” But he acknowledged there remains “plenty of work” to get the bill passed.