First Phase of Biden Infrastructure Plan to Include Billions for Schools, Child Care Centers and Broadband
President Joe Biden revealed a substantial infrastructure proposal at a carpentry training center in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Named the American Jobs Plan, this $2 trillion initiative aims to enhance schools and child care facilities, as well as provide broadband service to all Americans.
While urging Republicans to support tax increases on corporations and the wealthy in order to gain congressional approval for the plan, Biden also acknowledged that he anticipates strong opposition.
Despite critics arguing against the expenditure, Biden expressed his belief that the plan has bipartisan potential.
The allocation of $100 billion to K-12 facilities includes $50 billion in direct grants for facilities and an additional $50 billion for construction bonds. Moreover, $45 billion from the Environmental Protection Agency funds would be utilized to reduce lead exposure in schools and early-childhood facilities. Alongside expanding broadband access, Biden’s proposal seeks to reduce the cost of internet service.
John King, president and CEO of The Education Trust, emphasized the pre-existing weaknesses within the nation’s infrastructure even before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to King, the country has been inadequately investing in essential systems and personnel.
Biden plans to unveil the remaining $4 trillion package in the coming weeks. Expected components of this package include funding for universal pre-K, cost reduction in child care for many families, free community college, and potentially, a permanent increase in the child tax credit. However, the inclusion of the latter may encounter substantial opposition from the GOP.
High-quality child care facilities, safe and modern schools, and reliable internet access all significantly impact children’s ability to learn. Experts have long highlighted the urgent need for major improvements in the nation’s schools, with the average school building being constructed 50 years ago, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Many families, particularly in rural areas, face challenges due to the limited availability of child care services. Additionally, inadequate access to high-speed internet throughout the pandemic has hindered students’ ability to remain connected to their education.
In a statement, Chiefs for Change emphasized the importance of supporting the package, as it provides historically disadvantaged children with equal access to the necessary tools, programs, and facilities for success in the 21st century.
However, Biden’s plan, which proposes a corporate tax increase, may face difficulties in gaining support. Some Republicans argue that the emphasis should be on traditional infrastructure projects like roads and bridges, rather than green energy.
Mary Filardo, executive director of the 21st Century School Fund, highlights the relevance of upgrading the country’s schools in preparing the future workforce responsible for designing and constructing highways and bridges. Neglecting the maintenance and repair of school facilities leads to increased operational costs, higher modernization and replacement expenses, and a more direct impact on health and safety.
Biden’s plan relies more on bonds compared to a previous bill passed by the House. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Bobby Scott, focuses on using the Title I formula to distribute $100 billion in construction grants, as well as providing subsidies for interest payments on $30 billion in bonds.
Advocates argue that deteriorating school facilities pose an equity issue, with school districts serving low-income students more likely to report poor conditions, as shown in Filardo’s research. Unfortunately, Biden’s plan offers little to no support for the poorest districts, as lower-income communities face challenges in passing bonds or generating sufficient tax revenue for repayments.
Students in high-poverty communities and rural areas have struggled the most with staying connected to their classes since schools closed last year. While districts have implemented temporary solutions such as distributing mobile hotspots and establishing partnerships with service providers, a recent report highlights the impermanence of these measures. In addition to expanding broadband access, Biden’s $100 billion proposal aims to reduce the cost of internet service.
Evan Marwell, founder and CEO of the nonprofit EducationSuperHighway, believes that Biden’s plan will finally close the broadband infrastructure gap and set the stage for addressing the affordability gap responsible for two-thirds of the digital divide.
Rural areas, as well as certain middle-class communities, are severely lacking in sufficient child care facilities, according to research conducted by the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress. President Biden’s plan aims to tackle this issue by urging Congress to allocate $25 billion towards the construction and improvement of child care facilities. The plan also proposes expanding a tax credit to incentivize businesses to create on-site child care centers, with employers receiving half of their initial $1 million investment in a new facility.
In the coming weeks, President Biden is set to introduce the American Family Plan, which is expected to include provisions for universal pre-K and reduced child care costs for many families. President Biden has suggested increasing Title I funding to cover the costs of pre-K, but the details regarding how universal access will be achieved remain unclear.
On Wednesday, the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University unveiled a cost-sharing plan at the federal and state level. This plan aims to expand access to pre-K for an additional 5 million 3- and 4-year-olds by 2040. Currently, there are around 1.8 million preschoolers enrolled in publicly funded programs.
Over the initial four years, the plan is projected to cost the federal government $7.7 billion, with state and local governments covering $13.3 billion. Spending will gradually increase over time.
"Without federal government leadership at its current pace, the United States will not be able to provide free preschool to all children before 2100," stated Steven Barnett, senior co-director of the institute. "This proposed cost-sharing partnership offers a measured and predictable path to achieving universal access to high-quality preschool within a reasonable timeframe."
