By Sally Tucker
This week, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, Chairman of the US House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, issued the following statement, applauding the release of President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan. The plan includes a $10 billion fund for a civilian conservation corps, as outlined in Congressman Neguse and Senator Wyden’s 21st Century Conservation Corps Act.
“President Biden’s American Jobs Plan hits at the heart of so many of the challenges communities in our district are facing,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “This plan will jumpstart our economy, by putting millions of Americans back to work addressing our nation’s infrastructure needs, and making needed changes to our energy grid, transportation systems and more to help tackle the climate crisis. As we’ve proposed through our 21st Century Conservation Corps Act, his American Jobs Plan calls for a $10 billion investment to mobilize the next generation of conservation and resilience workers through a new Civilian Climate Corps.
“His proposal also calls for major investments to fix our roads, and bridges, like those needed on I-70 and I-25. It would expand affordable housing opportunities, and make major investments in rural broadband—both critical needs for families in northern Colorado and in our mountain communities. Additionally, his plan includes several of the priorities our office has been working on over the last several years to support our local communities, including making investments in our research infrastructure and supporting federal labs and scientists, prioritizing climate resiliency to equip our communities in the wake of wildfires, floods and other climate-related weather events, and creating good-paying jobs to expand the electric vehicle market.
“His plan also includes investments in research and development funds for small businesses, startups and innovation hubs, which we have advocated for. President Biden’s plan will reimagine and rebuild a new American economy, putting Coloradans and Americans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic back to work to build infrastructure for the future. This is a bold and visionary proposal that will chart a new course for the American economy over the next decade.”
In July, Congressman Neguse and Senator Ron Wyden introduced the 21st Century Conservation Corps Act, which would make a $9 billion investment in the natural resource workforce, to put the next generation of Americans back to work restoring our lands and forests. The proposal is included in President Biden’s American Jobs Plan as proposed this week.
Congressman Joe Neguse has also championed the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act. He is also leading the Research and Development Tax Credit Expansion Act to double the refundable research and development (R&D) tax credit for startups and extend it to more small businesses.