Article Summary –
US President Joe Biden has announced new workforce hubs in Milwaukee, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania to facilitate employment opportunities resulting from significant legislative measures. The hubs were introduced as part of Biden’s Investing In America agenda, which includes the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. The administration reports that over $1.2 trillion in private investments in clean energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure have occurred since Biden took office.
President Joe Biden Announces New Workforce Hubs Amid Legislative Efforts
On April 25, President Joe Biden announced Milwaukee as a site for a new workforce hub, geared towards connecting workers with jobs resulting from his recently signed legislation.
Hubs for New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania will follow the initial five hubs located in Columbus, Ohio; Baltimore, Maryland; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Augusta, Georgia; and Phoenix, Arizona.
According to the Biden administration, the key elements of the Investing In America agenda include the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. Over $1.2 trillion in private investments in clean energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure have been announced since Biden’s inauguration.
Biden discussed the hubs and his economic agenda at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse, New York. His visit coincided with Micron’s announcement that it will construct manufacturing facilities in New York and Idaho, made possible by grants from the CHIPS and Science Act.
Biden stated his commitment to investing in the American people and training them for the new high-paying jobs created by these initiatives. This involves bringing various stakeholders together in the workforce hubs to equip workers with necessary skills.
In Milwaukee, a workforce hub will be instrumental in providing skilled workers to assist in replacing lead pipes in the city’s water infrastructure. Milwaukee plans to use infrastructure law funds to expedite this project, as per a proposed federal rule by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Biden contrasted his infrastructure plans with those of his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, claiming an ‘infrastructure decade’ is forthcoming while pointing out Trump’s unfulfilled promises.
Under Trump, federal investment in water infrastructure fell to a 30-year low and spending on roads and bridges stagnated, reported The Washington Post in 2020. However, Trump had promised substantial infrastructure investment during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Republicans in Congress have largely opposed the legislation forming Biden’s economic agenda. The American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act were passed with only Democratic support and a tie-breaking vote by Vice President Kamala Harris in the Senate.
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