Statement: Infrastructure must be a good deal for our health

Media Contacts
Matt Casale

Former Director, Environment Campaigns, PIRG

Clean air, water and healthy climate at stake in bipartisan package

U.S. PIRG

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of senators met Tuesday afternoon to prepare for a vote planned Wednesday on a $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework that aims to boost federal investment in U.S. infrastructure, including billions for roads, clean water and power infrastructure, according to media reports

In response to the expected infrastructure vote, Matt Casale, U.S. PIRG environment campaigns director, said:

“The past election revealed just how divided Americans have become. A major infrastructure investment bill is a great opportunity for our leaders to push past partisan gridlock and bring the American people back together. But that road forward needs to lead to healthier lives and a cleaner environment, not more daughters with asthma or more fathers killed in car crashes.

“It’s 2021. We don’t need to spend money on polluting cars, trucks and buses when clean, electric vehicles are ready to roll. Nor should we take steps backward on bedrock environmental policies, like the National Environmental Policy Act. We should also not go backward on the longstanding practice of dedicating at least 20 percent of transportation spending to transit— which is an already inadequate amount.”

“We urge President Biden, Vice President Harris and U.S. senators to use this historic investment to set America on the course to a healthier future.” 

Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America’s Washington Legislative Office, said: 

“We all need clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and a livable climate. We should build infrastructure that helps achieve these goals: replacing pipes that pollute our waterways or poison our kids with lead, a clean energy grid powered by renewable sources, and a transportation system that makes the greenest, healthiest forms of travel the easiest to use.” 

“If the bipartisan infrastructure framework makes progress towards these goals, it will be a good deal for the country. But if the proposal worsens air pollution, fails to clean up our waterways, and locks in increased fossil fuel pollution that’s destabilizing our climate, senators will need to go back to the drawing board.”

 

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