Biden turns to former New Orleans Mayor Landrieu to spearhead infrastructure.
President BidenJoe Biden Michael Flynn Says From US: ‘We Have To Have A Religion’ White House Tries To Change Messages On Economy Biden Expresses ‘Great Concern’ Over Belarus-Poland Border Crisis MORE is turning to former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to coordinate the implementation of the $ 1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, the White House announced Sunday.
“In this role, Landrieu will oversee the largest and most comprehensive investments in American infrastructure in generations; work verified by independent experts will create millions of high-paying union jobs while boosting our global economic competitiveness, strengthening our supply chains, and tackling inflation in the long run, ”the White House said in a press release.
In Sunday’s announcement, the White House touted Landrieu’s work in guiding New Orleans through its recovery after Hurricane Katrina. Landrieu, a Democrat, served as mayor of New Orleans from 2010 to 2018. He later chaired the US Conference of Mayors, a bipartisan coalition of mayors from across the country.
“I am grateful to the president and it is an honor to be tasked with coordinating the largest investment in infrastructure in generations,” Landrieu said in a statement shared by the White House.
“Our work will require strong partnerships across government and with state and local leaders, businesses, and workers to create high-paying jobs and rebuild America for the middle class. We will also ensure that these significant investments achieve the president’s goals of combating climate change and promoting equity, ”he added.
Landrieu will assume the formal title of senior adviser and infrastructure coordinator for the White House. The high-risk role will involve coordinating the implementation of more than $ 1 trillion in funding across multiple federal agencies, most of it invested over the next five years.
The infrastructure bill includes money to rebuild roads and bridges, modernize passenger trains, improve the country’s ports of entry, create a network of electric vehicle charging stations, remove lead pipes from buildings, and expand access to broadband.
Biden is scheduled to sign the infrastructure bill in a ceremony Monday that is expected to include Democratic and Republican members of Congress, governors, mayors, and other proponents of the bill.
The Senate passed the infrastructure bill with strong bipartisan support in August, but the measure stalled in the House for about three months as Democrats tried to resolve disagreements over a separate social and climate spending package. The House finally passed the infrastructure bill on November 5, with 13 Republicans voting for it.
Biden has appointed coordinators to oversee other important initiatives of his administration.