The continuing crisis in Texas forces the question of what the United States will do about its infrastructure, which reflects "an example of how Americans have been expected to settle for less," according to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
"We're seeing it with the condition of our roads and bridges, the availability of travel options on trains," Buttigieg said on CNN's "New Day." "Right now, Texans are seeing it when it comes to our energy infrastructure."
Part of the reason for the disregard concerning the nation's infrastructure is that it "doesn't always sound sexy. It doesn't always sizzle when we're talking about it on the news," said Buttigieg.
Reports have indicated that the price tag for the Biden administration's infrastructure package could reach as high as $3 trillion, but Buttigieg said the main priority is getting the president's coronavirus relief stimulus package passed.
"Let's remember just how much Americans are hurting now, including when it comes to the areas that my department is responsible for," said Buttigieg. "There are transit agencies that may not make it into the summer if we are not delivering the kind of aid that's in the American Rescue package."
Meanwhile, he said that even though it may be difficult to get Republican votes for the coronavirus package, a bipartisan agreement should be sought on the infrastructure plan.
"Something like eight out of 10 Americans think we ought to do something like this," he said. "There's clear bipartisan support among the American people, among American elected officials, at least if you talk to mayors, and hopefully that will be reflected on the Hill."
He added that he was "very encouraged" during his own confirmation process in the Senate about the future of infrastructure legislation, but he knows it won't be easy to get it passed.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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