By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two years post President Joe Biden signed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law, his administration has launched 40,000 projects aimed at rebuilding America, according to his infrastructure czar, Mitch Landrieu.
The White House aims for Biden to garner maximum credit for these projects to support his re-election campaign, with just one year to go until Election Day.
THE OUTLOOK
Landrieu engaged with reporters for over an hour on Thursday to emphasize the benefits of the infrastructure law ahead of the Nov. 15 anniversary. As a former mayor of New Orleans, Landrieu is anticipated to step down shortly after extending his original one-year commitment to lead the infrastructure effort.
Landrieu, prohibited by the Hatch Act from discussing politics in great detail, summarized the choice he believes voters will face between Biden and a Republican opponent:
“Somebody’s going to be blowing smoke. Somebody’s going to be bringing receipts,” he said.
Biden frequently visits sites set to benefit from the law, such as a recent visit to his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, to promote Amtrak funding, and a trip to the Brent Spence Bridge spanning Ohio and Kentucky. The administration has placed signs at construction projects across the country touting Biden’s role in securing the funding.
Despite the information campaign, Biden’s approval rating remains around 40%, near the lowest level of his presidency, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll. He consistently receives low marks for his handling of the economy, fueled in part by frustration over high food and energy prices.
BY THE STATS
Landrieu stated that over $400 billion in projects has been announced, covering 40,000 projects in more than 4,500 communities in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Native American tribal areas.
Landrieu personally traveled to 130 cities, towns, and communities impacted by the law, logging more than 110,000 miles.
The project list is extensive, encompassing airports, bridges, roads, constructing more recharging stations for electric vehicles, expanding high-speed internet access, and much more.
How long will it take to complete all 40,000 projects? Landrieu estimated between three and five years.
“Some will get done really soon, some like the Hudson River Tunnel (for New York and New Jersey) will take a long time. Our task is to make sure they remain on budget.”
(Reporting By Steve Holland)
