Pres. Biden excursions NOLA water plant after cease in Lake Charles as a part of his ‘Getting America Again on Monitor Tour’

By Last updated May 8, 2021

NEW ORLEANS, La. (WVUE) – Air Force One brought President Joe Biden to Louisiana as part of his “Getting American Back on Track” tour.

First, he stopped in Lake Charles, an area devastated by strong hurricanes in 2020. Then he flew to New Orleans to visit the Carrollton Water Plant of the Sewerage and Water Board. The S & WB has an aged system with a few hundred years old equipment and infrastructure requirements.

“We have to build for what is needed now and I promise you that we will do so so that we can better withstand storms that are getting heavier and more frequent,” said Biden.

The American Jobs Plan, Biden’s infrastructure package, is priced at $ 2 trillion. Road and bridge repairs account for $ 115 billion of this.

“We have failed across the country, we haven’t invested properly in infrastructure for half a century,” said Biden.

There are billions spent on public transportation, resilient infrastructure, broadband, housing, care and childcare, and $ 111 billion to keep drinking water safe. According to the White House, the American employment plan calls for an investment of $ 111 billion in drinking water projects.

Biden toured the Sewerage and Water Board’s water facility for a little over an hour. Ghassan Korban, Executive Director of S & WB, spoke to Biden about problems with the old system.

“If we come back here when things are looking very calm on the surface, the system will be out of date. It served his life and we are getting closer to failure every day, ”said Korban.

Biden said, “The system could fail.”

Korban replied: “The whole system could fail.”

Biden believes Congress should work with him to make America’s employment plan and family plan a reality.

“One of the things this crisis has in relation to the health crisis that COVID has shown us is that we need to better back down in a number of ways. It’s about building a strong foundation for the American people, ”Biden said.

Funding for higher education for students would benefit from this under the AFP. The plan is for all students to receive a free community college for at least two years.

The Delgado Community College in New Orleans made the following statement:

“It’s a promising proposition, and like all community colleges we are examining the potential impact. It is always our goal to provide students with access to a meaningful and affordable educational opportunity. “

The plan will also increase the maximum Pell Grant awards by approximately $ 1,400 to support 108,000 Louisiana students. The federal Pell Grants are aimed at students from low-income households.

David Page is vice president of enrollment management at Dillard University, a historically black school in New Orleans.

“We have a 75% Pell Grant population, so we’re one of the places that really, really benefits from the federal Pell Grant,” said Page.

He said the scholarship makes higher education achievable for many students.

“These funds provide college students with the opportunity to go to college and in some cases don’t worry too much about student loan taking out because at some of our locations, the Pell Grant value, whichever it is, is the majority of the time Can cover tuition fees. ” specified.

In addition, the AFP would set up a national paid family and sick leave program to ensure workers receive partial reimbursement from the government. This would allow individuals to take time out to bond with a new child, care for sick relatives, and find safety from sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence.

Keith Liederman is the CEO of Kingsley House, New Orleans, which works with children and families.

“Almost half of our workforce doesn’t even get a day of paid sick leave, regardless of family and medical leave. So there is a lot we have to do to improve the family-friendly workforce we need,” said Liederman.

According to Liederman, the pandemic has made it clear that paid vacation is a necessity.

“Those who earn the most are five times more likely to get paid vacation from their employer. The exact opposite is the case for 95% of low-wage workers, who are mostly women and women of skin color,” Liederman said.

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