Saunders: President’s bold infrastructure plan will benefit all communities, working people

WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement in response to President Joe Biden’s groundbreaking American Jobs Plan:

“The president’s plan provides the kinds of bold and comprehensive investments we need to build more modern, equitable and sustainable communities that will benefit all working families. We cannot afford to merely rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure. We must think bigger and toward the future to create good paying union jobs, invest in public services and protect our communities from the threat of climate change. That is the only way we can build back better and address rising inequality exacerbated by the pandemic.

“In addition to fixing battered and neglected roads, bridges and railways, President Biden’s plan will make significant and much-needed investments to other critical infrastructure, including public health, housing and emergency response. It will invest in public services like clean drinking water, and it will provide the funding our schools and child care centers need to give our kids the safest possible learning environments.

“President Biden believes that working people and public services are the backbone of our communities. That is why instead of giving lavish tax breaks to profitable corporations, his plan will ensure they pay their fair share. AFSCME members – our first responders, nurses, bridge inspectors, child care providers, school staff and many others – have stood up for their communities every day during the pandemic. Serving on the front lines, they have sounded the alarm when years of underinvestment and austerity has hurt families, costing jobs and lives. Now is the time to go big and invest in the infrastructure that will make our communities safe, healthy and strong for years to come.”