NEW ORLEANS — Our partners at The Advocate | Times-Picayune report the Wall Street Journal announced Sunday, that President Joe Biden has chosen former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to head the $1 trillion infrastructure bill.
The article said The Wall Street Journal referenced Landrieu's experience with his two terms of being mayor, his prior position as Lieutenant Governor and his relationship with many leaders across the country, which made him the top choice for the position.
This infrastructure bill that is expected to be signed into law on Monday, Nov. 15, is expected to improve broadband, water supplies and other public works along with investments creating an average of 2 million jobs a year for the next decade, according to the article.
The bill passed in the house with a 228-206 vote after weeks of negotiations and after Democrats insisted on a larger spending bill of $1.75 trillion.
The Senate passed the legislation back in August with a 69-30 vote.
Gov. John Bel Edwards released a statement applauding President Biden on the selection:
“As a former Louisiana Lieutenant Governor and Mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu has a unique firsthand experience with the challenges aging infrastructure presents to our communities and also with how infrastructure improvements and projects can revitalize cities and towns. I applaud President Biden for selecting him to be the coordinator for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and look forward to working with him to address Louisiana’s many infrastructure needs head on.”
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.