Congress recently enacted the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — the largest infrastructure investment the United States has seen in decades. The law will create hundreds of thousands of jobs rebuilding crumbling roads and public transportation systems; supporting advanced energy technologies and clean water infrastructure; closing the digital divide; and modernizing the electric grid. Longstanding laws, new provisions in the IIJA and recent actions by the Biden administration have set standards that these jobs must uphold, such as to pay market wages and prevent discrimination.
But whether these jobs are good jobs — which are currently in short supply — depends on these standards being enforced and requires further action by Congress and the White House.
Much work now falls to the Biden administration to implement the IIJA and distribute its funds, and there are many steps they must take to uphold existing workplace requirements; modernize contract work standards for the 21st century; as well as partner with cities, states and worker organizations to encourage best practices. However, to enable the Biden administration to do its job, Congress should take two critical actions to ensure that the government lives up to its commitment that these federally supported jobs pay decent wages; are safe; support workers’ voice on the job; and increase access for women, workers of color, disabled workers and LGBTQIA+ workers.
First, Congress must increase...
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