Today, City Councilmember Malcolm Graham, Mecklenburg County Democratic Party Chair Jane Whitley, and IBEW 379 Journeyman Wireman Melissa Reyes held a press conference in Charlotte to discuss the benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for cities like Charlotte after President Biden signed the bill into law on Monday afternoon. The historic infrastructure package will create good-paying jobs in North Carolina by fixing roads and bridges, improving mass transit, expanding high-speed internet access, replacing lead pipes, installing electric vehicle charging stations, and more.
Speakers thanked President Biden and Democrats, including Congresswoman Alma Adams, and slammed U.S. Senate candidate and former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory for his opposition to the law and its investments in jobs for Charlotte residents and infrastructure improvements.
Click here to watch the full event.
“President Biden ran rebuilding the backbone of this nation — working people and the middle class. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers on that long overdue promise. It will rebuild the economy from the bottom up and middle out, and better jobs for the people of Charlotte and across North Carolina. While the North Carolina Democratic congressional delegation voted for a historic infrastructure package that will create jobs and make life better for North Carolinians, every single member of the Republican U.S. House delegation from North Carolina opposed it. If Pat McCrory is elected to the Senate, it’ll be more of the same,” said Mecklenburg County Democratic Chair Jane Whitley.
“It will provide Charlotte a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revitalize our infrastructure, strengthen our communities, create good-paying jobs, and make our economy more sustainable, resilient, and just. As a former Mayor, Pat McCrory should understand the importance of this bill and all that it’ll do to improve the lives of people in Charlotte and across North Carolina,” said City Councilman Malcolm Graham.
“Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, North Carolina would expect to receive $109 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state. This will allow IBEW members like myself to get to work installing hundreds of thousands of charging stations along the highways and in our communities, bringing us into the clean energy future. That’s why I can’t understand why Pat McCrory would be against these critical investments that will improve our lives and livelihoods,” said IBEW electrician Melissa Reyes.
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