Statement on Infrastructure Deal Advance: Democrats Must Build on this Deal & Go Bigger and Bolder

WASHINGTON, DC --  Today, Senators voted to proceed on debating narrow bipartisan infrastructure legislation, a sign of progress that President Biden and Democratic Congressional leadership are working to meet the needs of people in communities across America who are suffering from the increasing consequences of the climate crisis, decades of infrastructure neglect, and systemic inequity.

Senate and House Democrats must now use the budget reconciliation process to fully deliver the investments our communities need at the scale of the crises we face.

In response, Sierra Club Legislative Director Melinda Pierce released the following statement:

“This narrow bipartisan infrastructure deal is an important start, but it’s now essential that Congressional Democrats go bigger and bolder by crafting a companion reconciliation plan as large as the physical reality of the climate crisis, the economic reality of mass unemployment, and the structural reality of systemic racism.

“That starts with Congress bulking up the currently proposed budget resolution so we can truly invest at the scale needed to replace 100% of lead pipes, electrify hundreds of thousands of school and transit buses, expand access to affordable public transit, and deliver bold climate action through transformational clean energy tax credits, a Clean Energy Payment Program, retrofits of our homes and schools, the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, and a Civilian Climate Corps. 

“Champions in the House who are calling for bolder funding for these priorities must now have the opportunity to help shape the budget numbers so we can deliver investments as big as our communities’ needs.”