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Washington (AP) - US President Joe Biden wants to bring the country's infrastructure into shape with spending of 2 trillion dollars (1.7 trillion euros) and thus create millions of jobs.
Biden's plan, which he wanted to present in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, includes the modernization of 20,000 miles of roads and 10,000 smaller bridges as well as public transport, as the White House announced.
The expansion of electromobility is also part of the plan.
Spokeswoman Jen Psaki made it clear on CNN: "It's about more than just roads, railways and bridges."
The expansion of broadband and the renovation of the water supply system are also part of the infrastructure program.
Biden had already spoken out in favor of a large package to improve the infrastructure during the election campaign.
For the adoption of such a package, however, he is likely to have to rely on the approval of around ten Republicans in the Senate, which is at least uncertain.
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Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said: "This new Democratic administration is moving in the wrong direction."
The planned expenditures are too high and the economy is recovering from the crisis caused by the corona pandemic "by itself".
McConnell also criticized Biden's plan to fund spending through corporate tax hikes.
House spokeswoman Democrat Nancy Pelosi called Biden's plan "a visionary, one-off investment in the American people and the future of America," and stressed the expected positive impact on the labor market.
Biden's predecessor Donald Trump expressed devastating criticism, particularly with regard to the planned tax reform.
The plan was “radical”, a “heartless attack on the American dream” and a gift to China, Trump said in a statement.
Biden's Democrats had only pushed through a roughly $ 1.9 trillion stimulus package in Congress earlier this month to combat the Corona crisis, which corresponded to almost ten percent of the annual economic output of the USA.
They used a conciliation procedure for budget laws so that the package could be passed with a narrow majority of the Democrats.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210331-99-46724 / 2