SUPERIOR, Wis. 鈥� The day after giving his first State of the Union address, President Joe Biden told an invitation-only crowd on the University of Wisconsin-Superior campus how the bipartisan infrastructure bill would impact the region and the nation.
Standing on a stage in the Yellowjacket Union on Wednesday, March 2, Biden said the American Rescue Plan took the nation out of crisis and created 6.5 million jobs 鈥� more than any ever created in a single year 鈥� and the infrastructure bill is about investing in America.
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"We know that when the middle class grows, poor people have a way up and the economy does very, very well,鈥� Biden said. 鈥淥ur rescue plan reflects that, but that's just the first step. We also have to invest in the country itself. America used to have the best infrastructure in the world, the best bridges. Now our infrastructure ranks No. 13 in the world. ... We can鈥檛 compete for jobs in the 21st century if we don鈥檛 fix it."
The president said the legislation will invest in clean energy and cars, expand broadband in rural and urban areas and fix 65,000 miles of highway and 1,500 bridges.
Biden said the Blatnik Bridge connecting Duluth and Superior is fundamental to the Twin Ports, but at 61 years old, it has outlived its useful life.
The bill contains $40 billion in funding for bridges and $12.5 billion to fix the most economically significant bridges in the nation, Biden said. In addition, he said Minnesota and Wisconsin will each receive $5.4 billion for roads and bridges.
"There's 879 bridges in Wisconsin, 661 in Minnesota that are in poor condition," Biden said. "Now we're not just talking about it. We're going to get it done. Instead of an infrastructure week, we're going to have an infrastructure decade."
However, it鈥檚 not the only investment that will benefit the Twin Ports.
The bill includes historic investments in the Great Lakes, $1 billion to clean up the Great Lakes, including the St. Louis River, the president said.
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"One study found that for every dollar spent cleaning up the Great Lakes, you generate $3-$4 in economic benefit," Biden said. "There's more freshwater in these lakes than anywhere else in the whole world."
He said it's not the only investment in the Great Lakes.
"At the opposite end of Lake Superior, the Soo Locks connect the area to the rest of the world 鈥� 90% of American iron moves through those locks," Biden said. "That's why $500 million has been designated for the Soo Locks and $40 million has been designated for improvements in the Duluth-Superior Harbor."
Biden was joined by the first lady, Dr. Jill Biden, U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota democrats, as well as Govs. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Tony Evers of Wisconsin.
Superior Mayor Jim Paine and Duluth Mayor Emily Larson spoke at the event, which local and regional lawmakers attended, as well.
"I told you Superior was moving up in the world," Paine said before the president took the stage. "I could not be more thrilled or honored to welcome the president of the United States to one of America's most important cities, and I mean that Superior, Wisconsin is the future of the United States of America. After decades of decline, we are rebuilding the city. Every element of our city. We're building roads and bridges. We're building the most innovative broadband network. We are the greatest of the Great Lakes."
"It is such an honor to be with you all here today," Larson said. "Thank you, Mayor Paine, for hosting us, for hosting the country today, as we continue to work at building back better as a united Twin Ports."
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Gordy Smith, a member of International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Local 106, introduced the president.
"For many years, those of us in the building and construction trades have heard of this massive infrastructure investment,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hose promises never came. President Biden and his team finally delivered on that promise. The bipartisan infrastructure bill gives us the opportunity to rebuild public infrastructure and put another generation to work."
Superior City Councilor Tylor Elm called the visit "huge ... and exciting."
"I'm excited about the infrastructure 鈥� putting money into broadband 鈥� and certainly we can use that here in Superior and outside in Douglas County," he said.
Nicholas Ledin, also a Superior city councilor, said the president's speech was inspirational and positive.
"It was great to hear," Ledin said.
Douglas County Board Chair Mark Liebaert said he was disappointed that Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Tom Tiffany, both Republicans, didn't attend, but added they might not have been invited.
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"He came here first; that's pretty good," Liebaert said of Biden.
The president鈥檚 speech left him optimistic about plans to reconstruct the Blatnik Bridge, Liebaert said.
