Delivering on Building America Back Must Emphasize the Better

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, President Joe Biden unveiled his American Jobs Plan, which commits to equitably investing in the country’s infrastructure to address the climate crisis and create millions of good, family-sustaining jobs. In the factsheet, it states that “every dollar spent on rebuilding our infrastructure during the Biden administration will be used to prevent, reduce, and withstand the impacts of the climate crisis."

The Sierra Club’s recent report, “How to Build Back Better,” lays out its vision for the scale of investment that is needed. The organization is calling for an economic recovery package aligned with the THRIVE Act that invests $1 trillion a year to provide over 15 million family-sustaining jobs in sectors across our economy, such as ecosystem restoration, clean manufacturing, regenerative agriculture, upgrading infrastructure and buildings, clean energy and transportation, public services, and care for children and the elderly. At least 50% of these investments must go to frontline communities that have endured decades of underinvestment. All of the investments must include strong wage and benefit guarantees and access to unions, and equitable hiring that favors women and Black, Indigenous, and people of color. 

Three recent polls show the overwhelming support for Biden’s Build Back Better plan. One poll demonstrates that 69% of voters want Congress to pass Biden’s proposed package, while another shows that 67% of voters express similar support when it comes to wanting the government to invest in modernizing infrastructure. A third poll shows that 64% of voters support at least 50% of recovery investments going to frontline communities.

A detailed breakdown of Biden’s American Jobs Plan and the THRIVE Act can be found here.

In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:

“As we begin to turn the page from pandemic to recovery, President Biden has presented his ambitious plan, which understands that the next chapter needs to be a story of equity, justice, and real climate action. In this moment, the nation has a historic opportunity to undertake transformational change at the scale of the crises we face, fostering cleaner air and water, higher wages, greater equity, healthier communities, and a more stable climate. We can build on this proposal to create millions of good-paying jobs — enough to virtually end the unemployment crisis — so that each person in this country has the chance to thrive. 

“Now is the time for big, bold investments in clean energy, resilient infrastructure, electric vehicles, and a reliable electric grid that will cut climate pollution nearly in half by 2030. And it is beyond time that we held these crucial investments to stringent standards that would start to dismantle the systemic racism and economic inequity that has created sacrifice zones, saddling communities with the disproportionate effects of pollution, poverty, pandemic, and public health crises. 

“The vision Biden has presented today is a critical step toward fulfilling the commitments he’s made. As we work to craft legislation to deliver on the promise of building America back, we must emphasize the ‘better’ and take to heart the fact that we can’t return to a ‘normal’ that was unjust and unhealthy for so many.”