Biden touts electric vehicle provisions of infrastructure law as way to compete with China
By Arlette Saenz and Maegan Vazquez, CNN
President Joe Biden traveled to Detroit on Wednesday to tout the electric vehicle provisions of the recently signed bipartisan infrastructure law, making the case that his plan is a way to compete with China’s stronghold in the electric vehicle market and boost domestic supply chains.
“For most of the 21st century we led the world by a significant margin because we invested in our people. We invested in ourselves. But something went wrong along the way. China and the rest of the world are catching up. Well, we’re about to turn that around in a big, big way,” Biden said during remarks at General Motors’ Factory ZERO electric vehicle assembly plant.
Biden specifically made the case in remarks that the auto industry in Detroit is working to set a new pace for electric vehicles, months after GM announced it hopes to produce only zero-emission vehicles by 2035. He also argued that the US is now on its way to beating China in the global race to investing in the future of electric vehicles.
“Up until now, China’s been leading in this race. That’s about to change because this law next year, for the first time in 20 years, in which American infrastructure investment will be far greater than China’s,” the President continued, later adding that “we’re going to make sure that the jobs of the future end up here in Michigan and not halfway around the world.”
Speaking more broadly about America’s global leadership, the President said, “We don’t have to hurt any other nation,” but “we have to get back in the game.”
“(I)f we don’t get back in the game able to do it, who else is going to deal with the crises in the Middle East? Who else is going to deal with the Palestinian issues? … Who else is going to be the nation that decides that we have to have a plan to deal with the next pandemic and lead the world, so we’re not where we are now,” Biden asked. “Folks, I’m betting on America.”
The President also celebrated recent the dramatic government revisions showing job growth was actually much stronger between June and September than previously estimated.
“What we found out today was when they looked back at the last four months, we actually created 710,000 more jobs than previously reported on top of the 5.6 million we already created and had been counted,” Biden said. “So, it’s good news that Americans are working and wages are up as well.”
The Michigan visit marks his second stop to promote the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law.
In remarks to plant workers, Michigan lawmakers and GM executives, the President explained the law’s provisions aimed at bolstering the state’s broadband infrastructure, replacing lead pipes and building climate-resilient infrastructure.
During his visit to the plant, Biden toured and test drove the 2022 GMC Hummer EV.
The bipartisan infrastructure measure includes $7.5 billion to build a nationwide network of plug-in electric vehicle chargers, an initiative Biden promoted throughout his presidential campaign. The law also provides an additional $7.5 billion for zero- and low-emission buses and ferries, with the White House saying it will deliver thousands of electric school buses to school districts nationwide.
The President also discussed how his economic agenda will create jobs, including employing members of the IBEW and other unions to build electric vehicle charging stations.
The President’s visit to Michigan marked his second trip to a battleground state in as many days as he looks to sell the bipartisan infrastructure law amid his low approval ratings and ahead of the 2022 midterm elections when Democrats are looking to defend their narrow majority in the House.
The-CNN-Wire
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CNN’s Matt Egan contributed to this report.
