President Joe Biden touched down in Lake Charles on Thursday afternoon, May 6, to promote his plan to revitalize infrastructure and create millions of jobs in America.
The trip is part of the president's Getting America Back on Track Tour.
In his speech today, President Biden will lay out his plan to invest in working families and infrastructure while creating jobs, and strengthening the economy.
Biden stood in front of the Calcasieu River Bridge to talk about his American Jobs Plan which will include $115 billion for roads and bridges, and hundreds of billions of dollars more for upgrading the country's electrical grid and water infrastructure.
A part of that infrastructure investment in Louisiana includes the 70-year-old Calcasieu River Bridge which, as of it's last inspection, was reportedly in "poor" condition.
Louisiana has begun to move forward with a bridge replacement project using a combination of state and federal funding. A public-private partnership will be financed through bridge tolls.
The White House says the additional federal investment from the American Jobs Plan will help reduce tolls or advance unfunded project elements.
In Louisiana, 1,634 of the state's 12,853 bridges are classified as structurally deficient. Repairs have been identified on 3,251 bridges at an estimated cost of $6.9 billion.
The White House gave Louisiana a D+ grade overall for its infrastructure.
President Biden will also speak on the economic impact these investments will have on working class Americans. The White House says that nearly 90 percent of the infrastructure jobs created by the American Jobs Plan would not require a college degree.
During his speech, Biden was be joined by Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter, Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, and Governor John Bel Edwards. Biden discussed the tax code which, as a part of the American Jobs Plan, would reportedly return tax levels to where they were in the 1990's.
Following his speech, Biden departed Lake Charles for New Orleans at 2:30 p.m. In New Orleans he will tour the Carrollton Water Plant.
The White House says that the Carrollton Water Plant is an example of a water purification plant that will benefit from the American Jobs Plan's water infrastructure investment.
The plan is proposing an investment of $111 billion to improve water infrastructure by replacing lead service lines across the country.
He is set to depart New Orleans for Joint Base Andrews around 5:40 p.m.
Governor Edwards and Biden are also set to discuss hurricane recovery, infrastructure, and the American Rescue Plan.
Biden's last visit to Lake Charles was in 2010 when he was vice president to promote efforts for the area to recover from Hurricane Rita in 2005. He also visited in 2006 as a senator.
The President will also meet with members of the Coushatta Tribe on Thursday to discuss important issues including Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).
To read more about that meeting: Coushatta Tribal Chairman to meet with President Biden Thursday
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