Federal Funds,
Local Results
Since taking office in 2021, President Biden has enabled states and localities across the country to pursue bold policy action with federal funds.
Over the course of the Biden Administration, the federal government has enacted multiple, sweeping laws to provide state and local governments with the resources necessary to take on the biggest policy challenges facing their communities. The American Rescue Plan Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act are examples of key legislation that have supported new initiatives that are producing tangible change for people’s lives and showing how government can work effectively. As a result, states like Arizona have seen the microchip industry explode, Michigan has had the resources to pursue its audacious clean energy goals, and Pennsylvania is making headway on long-delayed infrastructure plans.
In recognition of these new laws and the ways they’ve catalyzed revitalization and forward progress across the country, the NewDEAL Forum has compiled a collection of case studies diving deep into the localized projects made possible by these Biden-era federal bills. These case studies highlight the phenomenal progress that can be made in communities across the country when the federal government works in tandem with elected officials on the ground in states and localities, providing community problem-solvers with the funds to turn abstract policy initiatives into good paying jobs, high quality homes, and healthy modes of public transit.
As America continues to push forward into the future, these examples prove that success is possible when leaders at all levels of government are able to collaborate on community-focused projects.
As one of his earliest acts as President, Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act into law in an effort to help communities across the country recover from COVID-19. With ARPA, President Biden brought relief to millions of Americans and rescued the national economy, gaining particular attention for his direct assistance in the form of personal checks, the increased Earned Income Tax Credit, expanded unemployment insurance, and support for small businesses. In total, he spent $1.9 trillion to ensure that Americans could provide for their families in spite of a mammoth national challenge.
American Rescue Plan
-
Georgia
When the pandemic struck in 2020, crippling businesses, upending public health response, and endangering families, Georgians across the state struggled to gain their footing.
-
Nevada
As the pandemic shuttered doors and slashed the tourism industry, Nevada, home to the vibrant Las Vegas and typically bustling national parks, struggled to stay afloat.
-
Pennsylvania
Like so many states across the nation, COVID-19 has disastrous effects on the most vulnerable communities in Pennsylvania.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – created by President Biden in 2021 – is the largest investment ever made in U.S. infrastructure, transportation, and connectivity. Under its purview, President Biden has set aside hundreds of billions of dollars for rebuilding roads and bridges, improving street safety, improving public transit, boosting clean energy, and connecting millions of households to high speed, affordable internet.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
-
North Carolina
Nearly 2,500 miles of roadway and 1,300 bridges in North Carolina are considered to be in poor condition – prolonging commute times, costing resident hundreds in repairs, and placing the lives of North Carolinians at risk.
-
Pennsylvania
In June of 2023 in the Tacony neighborhood of East Philadelphia, an overpass of I-95 collapsed, rendering the key corridor of the East Coast’s busiest highway unusable.
Enacted by President Joe Biden in June of 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is the first major federal gun safety bill passed in nearly 30 years. It’s saving lives by closing gun law loopholes, implementing new violence prevention policies, and making significant investments in school and community safety. In addition to making progress on gun safety, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act also strengthens protections for survivors of domestic violence, creates more community-based violence intervention programs, and increases funding for schools across the U.S. to implement new safety measures and elevate mental healthcare.
Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
-
Nevada
Nevada is leading the nation in school safety and student mental healthcare thanks to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
-
North Carolina
In the aftermath of the harrowing 2023 shooting at UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina is using President Biden’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to prevent more tragedies.
Signed into law in August of 2022, the CHIPS and Science Act allocates $52.7 billion towards the research, development, and manufacturing of semiconductors or microchips. These semiconductors are crucial to the production of electric vehicles, smartphones, satellites, and countless other technologies that keep Americans connected and thriving. As microchip innovations have accelerated over through the 2010s, the U.S. has been directly competing with China in semiconductor production, and at times has had to import Chinese products while exporting labor. Domestic semiconductor production has evolved beyond an economic issue and into a national security issue.
CHIPS and Science Act
-
Arizona
President Biden’s CHIPS and Science Act puts Arizona right at the center of a new economic age.
-
Oregon
With President Biden’s CHIPS and Science Act, the nation will move from producing a mere 12% of the world’s supply of microchips to positively dominating the industry with the state of Oregon at its helm.
-
Idaho
As part of the United States’ investment in the international microchip or semiconductor industry, the Biden-Harris Administration is bringing historic jobs and funding to Idaho.
The Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law in August of 2022 by President Biden, marking not only the most significant action ever undertaken by the federal government to address climate change but also comprehensive reforms to healthcare costs and corporate taxes. An emblem of hope for the working class emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Inflation Reduction Act has created tax incentives for clean energy manufacturing – including mechanisms to increase private sector investments – created hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, capped insulin at $35 a month, recovered $38 million in unpaid taxes from the wealthiest people in the nation, and negotiated lowered drug costs for key prescriptions.
Inflation Reduction Act
-
Georgia
Georgia is leading the country in renewable energy production, helping farmers streamline agricultural practices, and lowering healthcare costs for low income residents.
-
Michigan
Michigan isn’t just home to Motor City – it’s the epicenter of a vibrant clean energy economy that elevates local businesses establishing United States as the leading manufacturer of renewable energy.
-
Wisconsin
Wisconsinites are seeing remarkably low healthcare and prescription drug costs, exponential job growth in clean energy, and a plethora of rebates and tax credits for transitioning to renewable energy alternatives.