In the News

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Steven Horsford, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) announced that the members of the CBC met today with Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States. Landrieu serves as the Infrastructure Coordinator at the White House, coordinating the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) that was signed last year. The CBC requested the meeting to get an update on implementation and ensure that the historic amounts of funding in the legislation are positively impacting many of the underserved communities that can benefit the most.

Chairman Horsford provided the following readout:

“Since Democrats took back the House in the 116th Congress, we have been focused on rebuilding our economy with the good-paying jobs our families deserve, after years of policies that favored corporate off-shoring and disinvestment in domestic manufacturing. In the wake of the pandemic, that focus was even more important. The historic infrastructure package is investing billions across the country to create good union jobs, grow our small businesses, and protect our communities from climate change. Our discussion with Mitch Landrieu focused on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will create a more equitable and just future for all families, especially Black Americans. We want to ensure that every part of the Administration involved with the deployment of these funds is keeping a focus on the local impact, the local job creation, and the local investment. Working together we can make sure this historic investment also means that transformational change for the American people is on the way."

Mitch Landrieu provided the following statement after the meeting:

“The President gave us a mandate to build a better America, and better means that no one is shut out or left behind, including Black Americans and those living in disadvantaged communities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides historic investments to advance equity by addressing legacy pollution, cleaning up our air and water, expanding access to high-speed internet, and reconnecting communities that were previously cut off from opportunities by infrastructure. But the impact of this bill goes beyond its unprecedented funding - we’re prioritizing equity as we implement programs, and expanding technical assistance, workforce development, and contracting opportunities to ensure that every American can tap into these once-in-a-generation opportunities and build intergenerational wealth.”

Members of the CBC focused their questions on several areas, including, how the Administration is tracking the funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; addressing historical barriers to federal infrastructure funding, especially for Black women; using data from these investments to evaluate more equitable funding to Black communities and contractors; prioritizing clean energy projects for “high risk” communities and the Administration’s Justice40 communities; communication with rural and smaller communities; public outreach on job opportunities and connecting with apprenticeship training programs; and workforce training plans for shortages identified in certain skilled trades and positions.

In addition to the meeting with Landrieu today, CBC Members were present for the House Democratic Caucus meeting this morning when Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the BIL and implementation of other Democrat successes from the previous Congress.

Chairman Horsford added:

“The Vice President this morning emphasized the need for our laser-focus on highlighting how our work, especially from the BIL, Bipartisan Safer Communities law, and the Inflation Reduction Act, impacts people in all our states and all of our communities. She provided clear guidance on the fight ahead, and how she and the President will stand with us.”

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