© Provided by Washington Examiner Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Bernie Sanders suggested that President Joe Biden's massive infrastructure spending plan should include what he calls "human infrastructure."
"[W]e've got to take a broad look at what infrastructure means, human infrastructure for ordinary people," the Vermont Democrat said during a segment on MSNBC's Velshi on Saturday. "Human infrastructure means housing. You've got half a million people in this country who are homeless. You've got 19 million households who are spending 50% of their limited incomes on housing. We need to build housing. And by the way, when you deal with housing, you create jobs."
Sanders's comments look to build support for a Democratic proposal that comes with the hefty price tag of $3 trillion. Another "skinny" option estimated to cost between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion is also being considered.
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Republicans have argued that the infrastructure plan should be a major overhaul of the country's bridges, highways, and roadways, but Sanders argued a broader interpretation should be considered.
"When I talk about infrastructure, it means if a worker, a mom and a dad are going to work, they have the right to know that their kids are in decent childcare. That's infrastructure," he argued.
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Sanders also said the plan should include more access to higher education.
"Infrastructure is having the best-educated workforce in the world. That means all of our kids should have the ability to get a higher education, not leave school deeply in debt," he continued.
The former Democratic presidential candidate explained why the infrastructure plan should also address universal healthcare.
"It means that we need a healthy society," Sanders said. "Our life expectancy is 40th in the world because we are the only major country not to guarantee healthcare to all people. And so, I think as a nation, we've got to take a very broad look at what we mean by infrastructure, it's physical infrastructure, obviously, bricks and mortar. It is human infrastructure."
Tags: News, Congress, Bernie Sanders, Infrastructure, Healthcare, Medicare, Education
Original Author: Lawrence Richard
Original Location: Bernie Sanders: Infrastructure plan should include 'human infrastructure' such as housing, childcare, healthcare