JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden signed the ratification of a bill into law on a $1 trillion infrastructure bill at the White House in Washington Monday, after months of deliberation in Congress.
The move is designed to create jobs across the country by deploying billions of dollars to state and local governments, to repair damaged bridges and roads, and by expanding broadband internet access to millions of Americans.
The law-signing ceremony, held in cold weather on the South Lawn of the White House to house large crowds, was an increasingly rare moment when members of both sides agreed to stand together and celebrate bipartisan achievements.
President Biden said the bill's passage showed "despite the cynicism, Democrats and Republicans can come together and deliver results." He called the bill "a blue-collar blueprint for rebuilding the United States."
"Too often in Washington, the reason we don't get things done is that we insist on getting everything we want. With this law, we focus on getting things done," President Biden said, citing Reuters November 16.
A number of members of the US Congress were present at the signing, including a number of Democratic Party politicians who had drawn criticism for 'contradicting' President Biden's policy plans, such as Kyrsten Sinema, who attended with other Democratic senators Joe Manchin.
"Delivering this law for the American people, this is what it looks like when elected leaders put aside differences, shut down the noise, and focus on delivering results on the issues that matter most to everyday Americans," he said.
While from the Republican Party, senators in attendance included Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, and Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan.
President Biden signed an executive order before the ceremony directing that materials made in the United States be prioritized in infrastructure projects, the White House said.
It also established a task force made up of top Cabinet officials to guide implementation of the law, which was co-chaired by former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
The bill has become a partisan lightning rod, with Republicans complaining the Democrats controlling the House of Representatives delayed its passage to ensure party support for Biden's $1.75 trillion social policy and climate change bill, which Republicans rejected.
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To note, the Build Back Better Biden package includes provisions on child care and preschool, parental care, health care, prescription drug prices, and immigration.
The White House hopes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will take the bill to a vote this week. However, that would only be the first step, as the Senate has yet to take the bill, and a Democratic split could threaten his chances in that chamber.
It is understood President Biden and top officials in his administration are preparing to promote the infrastructure plan. He visited New Hampshire on Tuesday and Michigan on Wednesday.
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