Summary
This post has background information for a series of aircasts on “Climate Change & US Governance” – what the US government, Congress, and universities can do to better address current and future climate change issues.
The first aircast in this series is focused on “How do the 2021 US infrastructure bills address global warming?”.
OnAir Post: IRA Bill & Climate Aircasts
News
President Joe Biden signed Democrats’ landmark climate change and health care bill into law on Tuesday, delivering what he has called the “final piece” of his pared-down domestic agenda, as he aims to boost his party’s standing with voters less than three months before the midterm elections.
The legislation includes the most substantial federal investment in history to fight climate change — some $375 billion over the decade — and would cap prescription drug costs at $2,000 out-of-pocket annually for Medicare recipients. It also would help an estimated 13 million Americans pay for health care insurance by extending subsidies provided during the coronavirus pandemic.
The measure is paid for by new taxes on large companies and stepped-up IRS enforcement of wealthy individuals and entities, with additional funds going to reduce the federal deficit.23
NPR, – February 7, 2022
President Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during a joint news conference on Monday that they are in complete agreement on sanctions against Moscow if diplomacy fails and Russia invades Ukraine again.
That includes working together to stop the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline — a multibillion-dollar vein that runs from Russia to Germany.
The pipeline is not yet operational but has emerged as a key issue in the standoff.
Russia is one of the world’s largest producers of natural gas; Germany is one of the largest importers of that commodity.
“If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2,” Biden said. “We will bring an end to it.”
Videos
Climate Change & US Governance
How the 2021 infrastructure bills address global warming
December 10, 2021 (01:04:25)
Chapters: 00:00 CJ Nicholson, Aircast Host, introduces Featured Guest, Colin Nackerman
1:27 Colin Nackerman presentation – Associate Director of Policy & Operations for the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health
12:00 Dan Esposito presentation – Senior Policy Analyst at Energy Innovation
22:00 Dr. Michelle Solomon presentation – Policy Analyst in the Power Sector Transformation program at Energy Innovation.
28:12 Featured Guests discussion
36:42 Audience Q&A For more information on this and future aircasts in this series, go to this post https://us.onair.cc/climate-us-govern… on the US Democracy onAir governance and elections Hub.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF)
Source: Wikipedia
Original Bill: H.R.3684 – 117th Congress
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) or Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, and originally in the House as the INVEST in America Act (H.R. 3684), is a bill introduced in the 117th Congress. The bill was initially a $715 billion infrastructure package that included provisions related to federal-aid highway, transit, highway safety, motor carrier, research, hazardous materials, and rail programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT), but was amended and renamed while in the Senate to include funding for broadband access, clean water, electric grid renewal in addition to the transportation and road proposals of the original House bill. The bill satisfies a portion of President Joe Biden‘s American Jobs Plan.
After months of negotiation, the amended bill was passed by the Senate on August 10, 2021 with a vote of 69–30. On November 5, 2021, the bill was then passed by the House with a vote of 228–206.
Build Back Better Act
Source: Wikipedia
Website: The Great American Build
The Build Back Better Act is a bill introduced in the 117th Congress to fulfill aspects of President Joe Biden‘s Build Back Better Plan. It was spun off from the American Jobs Plan, alongside the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as a $3.5 trillion reconciliation package that included provisions related to climate change, family aid, and expansions to Medicare. Following negotiations, the price was lowered to $1.75 trillion. While the framework for the bill proposes increased taxes for corporations and the wealthy, the White House states that “nobody earning less than $400,000 per year will pay a penny more in taxes.”
