Viewpoint: Building back better in North Dakota
We are running for chair and vice-chair of the DEM-NPL in North Dakota. As a small business owner and veterinarian from western North Dakota and a 100th generation tribal citizen we are committed to listening to the concerns and problem solving with all North Dakotans. The name of our party, DEM-NPL reflects North Dakota’s long history as the party of the people.
Written By:
Shelley J. Lenz and Cesar Alvarez | 8:00 am, Apr. 11, 2021 ×
Shelley LenzSubmitted photo
Just over a year ago the COVID-19 global health pandemic began the public health and economic crisis that infected almost 30 million people in the U. S. alone and took over 540,000 American lives. In North Dakota over 100,000 of our just 762,062 population were infected and 1,466 North Dakotans lost their lives. This loss of life is accompanied by tremendous economic and social hardship.
OMAHA (DTN) President Joe Biden more aggressively defended his $2.3 trillion infrastructure package on Wednesday, saying the plan and its funding are open to negotiation. But he also stressed the investments are needed to compete with China and other countries going forward.
The president’s proposals fell in line with issues raised Wednesday by the CEO of the country’s largest bank JPMorgan Chase even as Biden’s plan largely has gotten lukewarm support among major agricultural groups. Organizations such as the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) have raised concerns over tax increases while biofuel backers are at odds over hundreds of billions in proposed investment to spur more electric vehicles.
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A week ago, President Joe Biden proposed a welcome proposal that includes $111 billion investment in water infrastructure. It would fund strong measures to protect millions of Americans from water contaminated by lead, other toxic chemicals and pathogens. The package would create a bevy of new living wage jobs while protecting our health. Congress should take prompt action to move these priorities forward.
Investing in water infrastructure is investing in equity. As we have learned from our studies and from communities we’ve worked in, including Flint, Michigan; Newark, Ohio; Pittsburgh and other cities, those left behind by disinvestment in water infrastructure are disproportionately low-income communities of color. Disadvantaged rural and tribal communities also are at serious risk. Families in these communities often must live every day with seriously contaminated water or no water at all, have lead service lines and sometimes have raw sewage flowing in their
and Cesar Alvarez, candidate for vice chair of the DEM-NPL in North Dakota
Just over a year ago, the COVID-19 global health pandemic began the public health and economic crisis that infected almost 30 million people in the U. S. alone and took over 540,000 American lives. In North Dakota over 100,000 of our just 762,062 population were infected and 1466 fellow North Dakotans lost their lives. This loss of life is accompanied by tremendous economic and social hardship.
We believe that this crisis provides an opportunity for North Dakotans to come together to “build back better.” In early March, the Biden-Harris American Rescue Plan was signed into law and last week the administration has unveiled an infrastructure proposal that makes significant investments in rural America. These actions by the administration are the first steps to bringing an end to the pandemic and to restoring our economy. Former Congressman Barney Frank was known for saying “Government is simply the name
President Biden s American Jobs Plan: A Bold Mandate for Infrastructure Investment | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP jdsupra.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from jdsupra.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.