Infrastructure bill is a win for Biden — and for America

In the first real legislative victory since the start of his presidency, Joe Biden is a lot closer to a major part of his economic agenda after the Senate, in bipartisan fashion, passed his $1 trillion infrastructure bill. The plan passed by a vote of 69 to 30, with 19 Republicans joining all 50 Democratic senators. The bill is expected to pass the House as well. 

Since President Biden took over the Oval Office, he and Republican leaders haven’t agreed on much of anything, but the passing of this legislation shows that bipartisanship still can be achieved — especially if members of Congress are willing to put aside their egos for the greater good of the country. 

In recent years, partisanship and tribalism have crippled progress in the United States and now, as the country emerges from devastating restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more imperative than ever that legislators work together. Only through a group effort, involving members from both sides of the aisle, can we get the engines of America working again at optimal levels. This factor alone is why the infrastructure bill is so important. 

America’s infrastructure has aged, roads and bridges, water mains and more. And as the world’s leader we must set an example of entrepreneurial creativity. We must lead the technological revolution, something that, hopefully, we can start to achieve through this legislation. This is an opportunity for us to move our country into the next stage of advancement in technology. We need high-speed rail, a more advanced highway system, and we need to extend broadband access into far-reaching, rural areas of the United States that lack reliable internet service.

For decades we have debated whether it was the right time to improve our infrastructure. Cost always became the single greatest burden. Democrats and Republicans alike would argue about how we could pay for it without adding too much to the burdensome debt we already owe. Make no mistake, all of these points were and are important; however, improving our infrastructure, creating jobs and spurring economic growth could generate new income to help pay off the debt — perhaps more quickly than we hoped.

As a Black business owner, I am excited about how the legislation may help to create wealth for minority entrepreneurs, which could be key to spurring economic growth in communities that have struggled significantly during the pandemic. In fact, more than 41 percent of Black-owned businesses fell victim to the economic fallout of COVID-19. The infrastructure bill will set money aside for small businesses and could be a way to foster a new generation of Black-owned businesses. 

In addition to its potential upside for communities of color, the infrastructure bill has benefits for rural areas, where broadband, transportation, and access to hospitals and other basic needs are in high demand but access often is slim. Small business owners in those areas will have the opportunity to seek federal contracts to partake in rebuilding and stabilizing their communities. In many ways, this is a long overdue win for the country. 

My hope is that this legislation is a step in the right direction, demonstrating that the United States is coming back together — one country, united for the betterment and strengthening of our highest ideals. We can, and we must, work together; the success of future generations rests on our ability to do so today. We have to be willing to fiercely debate those matters on which we disagree, but we also must be able to come together when necessary in a compromise for the greater good.

The infrastructure legislation isn’t perfect — it won’t satisfy everyone — and surely there are areas that could be improved. But that’s the tricky part with legislation in general: perfection is impossible. However, as long as we’re willing to put forward legislation that moves the entire country forward, regardless of our political stripes or ideological differences, America wins. And when America wins, we all win. 

Armstrong Williams (@ARightSide) is the owner and manager of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and the 2016 Multicultural Media Broadcast Owner of the Year. He is the author of “Reawakening Virtues.”