President Joe Biden on Wednesday discussed his coronavirus-aid package and infrastructure plan with labor leaders, continuing a push for two of his top agenda items.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were scheduled meet with leaders to discuss his $1.9 trillion relief package, and “get input on the president’s infrastructure plan,” the White House said.
A readout of the meeting wasn’t immediately available. At the beginning of the session, Biden called the U.S. “so far behind the curve” on infrastructure, according to a White House pool report.
Democrats in Congress are preparing legislation on Biden’s stimulus plan, aiming to pass it in the next few weeks. And the president has begun to intensify his pitch on infrastructure IGF, +0.02%, meeting last week with lawmakers after campaigning on improving U.S. roads and bridges.
Now read: Biden warns China could ‘eat our lunch’ as he calls for improving U.S. roads, bridges
Labor is a key constituency for Biden. The president has won plaudits from unions for his “Buy American” executive order, but has also faced blowback for canceling a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.
“A lot of these folks have been my friends for a long, long, long time. As they say in parts of my state, these are the folks that brung me to the dance,” Biden said at the start of the meeting.
Among the scheduled participants were AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, North America’s Building Trades Union President Sean McGarvey and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers International President Robert Martinez Jr.
Also see: What’s next for coronavirus stimulus? A series of hurdles
Add Comment