In Pittsburgh visit, Biden unveils $2 trillion American Jobs Plan

Mar. 31—President Joe Biden traveled to suburban Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon to deliver details of his plan to revive the nation's pandemic-battered economy by pumping about $2 trillion into infrastructure improvements around the country.

"Two years ago I began my campaign here in Pittsburgh, saying I was running to rebuild the backbone of America. And today I return as your president to lay out the vision of how I believe we do that," Biden said early in his remarks, which began around 4:40 p.m.

Biden addressed a small audience of a few dozen people, including invited guests, dignitaries and news reporters, seated in chairs spaced more than six feet apart inside a large warehouse at the Carpenters Training Center in Collier.

To the left of a podium anchored by American flags, a large blue banner featured the phrases, "American Jobs Plan" atop the "Build Back Better."

Among the limited number of guests and dignitaries at the presidential visit was Gov. Tom Wolf, who has tasked state lawmakers and a newly formed transportation funding commission to come up with separate, statewide plans by August.

Also in attendance were Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and Reps. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon, and Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills.

Biden's plan: By the numbers

Republicans have balked at the price tag of Biden's package and objected to funding it through higher taxation on corporations.

The plan calls for investing about $2 trillion over an eight-year period.

Among $620 billion in infrastructure-related investments included in the package:

—$115 billion to repair roads, bridges and highways;

—$85 billion to modernize public transit;

—$80 billion to address Amtrak's repair backlog and improve passenger and freight rail safety;

—$174 billion to encourage investment in electric vehicles.

Going beyond 'traditional infrastructure'

In anticipation of Biden's trip to Pittsburgh, a business and labor coalition called Pittsburgh Works Together sent a letter to Pennsylvania's two senators and 18 representatives, along with lawmakers in West Virginia and Ohio.

"Certainly, investment in high-profile traditional infrastructure areas such as roads and bridges, and in the case of Pittsburgh and other river communities, locks and dams, is important," the Pittsburgh Works Together letter said. "But there are other crucial investments that are needed to maximize opportunity and equity."

Among non-traditional infrastructure priorities cited in the group's letter: repairing water and sewer systems so the burden isn't limited to ratepayers; building a federally funded plan for electric vehicle charging stations; and expanding broadband access to rural communities.

Similar goals are folded into Biden's proposed legislation.

The plan calls to allocate $650 billion toward broadband, clean water, the electric grid and affordable housing.

This story will be updated.

Natasha Lindstrom is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Natasha at 412-380-8514, nlindstrom@triblive.com or via Twitter .