Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, in November 2021. This act aims to strengthen infrastructure in the U.S. by rebuilding roads, bridges and rails. 

In addition, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal plans to invest $55 billion to provide access to clean drinking water for households, businesses and schools across America. The bill also intends to provide access to high-speed internet for all Americans.

While the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal targets the physical aspects of infrastructure, it also aims to add jobs to the market and combat climate change. Combined with the Build Back Framework — a framework that encourages the U.S. to create jobs, grow the economy and help mitigate climate change — the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will create around 15 million jobs within the next 10 years. A substantial portion of the jobs that are being created will be in the zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) sector to create charging infrastructure with the goal of decreasing emissions by expanding public transportation systems and replacing current vehicles with ZEVs. 

Working alongside the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, the government is hoping to make electric vehicles more accessible by expanding infrastructure, such as charging stations. This will further the agenda of lowering carbon emissions and promoting accessible and sustainable modes of transportation.

Daamiya Mir is a senior at New York University. She is studying Politics with a minor in Psychology and Child and Adolescent Mental Studies on the Pre Law track.  She is a writer for the Infrastructure policy team at OUR NATIONAL CONVERSATION (ONC).

Sources:

“The Build Back Better Framework.” The White House, The United States Government, 3 Dec. 2021, https://www.whitehouse.gov/build-back-better/#:~:text=The%20Build%20Back%20Better%20framework%20will%20ensure%20that%20middle%2Dclass,the%20country%20with%20young%20children. 

“Fact Sheet: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal.” The White House, The United States Government, 6 Nov. 2021, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/11/06/fact-sheet-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal/. 

Hum, Thomas. “What the Infrastructure Bill Means for Electric Cars: Siemens USA CEO.” Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo!, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/what-the-infrastructure-bill-means-for-electric-cars-siemens-usa-ceo-193316394.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACqDfS-kTUn8eHlB5OwgRORvojfUySS8NEO6VUH_QOaAsF0Ctv6e3Do8nw0nAJOOuCga5r-RplRIFOH4_np37OY-VislSu1Ztnjs_cBnJbbjA9pZGCW7pM1G2UuViNBYMMIijunXswu2GKb6hAqXIugcp5vZeSWtE0eKl-MXfFow.