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Latino communities could benefit from thousands of jobs in 117 trades and professions with the Plan President’s American Job Board Joe Biden .
That is in addition to the benefits in their quality of life, due to the infrastructure project, which is considered as a consequence of the investment of $ 2. 25 billion dollars, considered Latino leaders, including the representative Verónica Escobar ( Texas).
“This plan can offer millions of jobs, it is predicted that it can create more than 117 types of jobs, in an industry that translates to millions in our communities ”, Indicated Eric Romero, Local Secretary of the IUE-CWA 801301. “Most of these jobs are local … and there are different types, in education at different levels, Latinos have to position ourselves to be a key piece in this plan.”
Representative Escobar, who is part of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, also highlighted job opportunities for Latinos.
“The types of jobs are very different, starting with construction, we will see more projects under construction” , he said, adding that this includes builders, engineers, electricians, administrative personnel, among others.
He emphasized the promotion of new technologies that would provide an opportunity for researchers and technology experts.
Meanwhile, Linda Escalante, legislative director for Southern California from NRDC, warned that the country is not prepared for the more int ensos of climate change.
“We are not prepared to face the worst effects of climate change and we need bold and immediate action,” he urged. “Latinos are from communities that face pollution problems and climate risk” .
He also considered that President Biden’s project will help the economy of the most vulnerable.
“The jobs plan is a path to the middle class and contributing to a new sustainable economy for all ”, he considered.
The Democratic representative Escalante insisted that the country requires climate actions, tied with President Biden’s project.
“Communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities, like the one I represent… have had the greatest impact due to the economic crisis ”, he expressed.
Republicans resist
Representative Escobar regretted that there are still no Republicans who openly support President Biden’s project, although negotiations are ongoing.
“The problem we have with the Republicans is that they want to limit the number and make a very limited law” , he regretted.
The Republicans want a project between $ 650, 000 and $ 800, 000 millions of dollars at most, in addition to criticizing the White House project for including home care, climate change and housing in a plan aimed at infrastructure, such as roads and bridges.
They even suggest that the plan be divided into two parts, one focused on infrastructure and the other on improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable groups.
“What I would like to do is go back to what I consider the regular definition of infrastructure in terms of job creation,” Senator Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia).
Representative Escobar did not specify if the plan could be approved with the Reconciliation rule, which would allow Democrats to advance in the Senate with a simple majority.