Infrastructure deal and Build Back Better will boost Stanislaus jobs

Stanislaus County is suffering from a climate emergency. Devastating wildfires rage across our state and blanket us with smoke, ranking the Central Valley as having some of the worst air quality in the country.

This is why President Biden’s Build Back Better Act and its historic investments in fighting the climate crisis are urgently needed. This legislation will make big, bold investments in clean energy production, pollution-free transportation, and sustainable infrastructure. These proposals would tackle the climate-fueled drought and wildfire crises, reduce air pollution and create good-paying jobs in the Valley.

In addition to passing the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, ensuring the passage of the Build Back Better Act is essential.

I want to thank Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10) for his leadership on these issues and encourage him to continue to support this legislation. His continued work is much appreciated and is critical for protecting our unique way of life in the Central Valley.

Extreme heat and drought are also becoming a more persistent and acute threat to the region. 2020 was the hottest year on record and 2021 has already seen the hottest summer on record in California. The increasing frequency and duration of extreme heat is disastrous for our economy, causing agricultural losses, loss of income for outdoor workers, and increased energy costs for residents.

Like much of the Central Valley, Stanislaus County is experiencing exceptional drought conditions. This is leading the region to rely heavily on our already strained underground aquifers. This, in turn, is leading to water insecurity for many communities across the Valley and state.

However, we shouldn’t lose hope. If we take bold action now, we can tackle these challenges and even reverse some of these trends.

Going big on clean energy and transportation will also boost our local economy and create real jobs for real people. Riverbank has been in the process of developing industrial space for green businesses in the Riverbank Industrial Complex that will further environmental sustainability while at the same time creating local employment.

These efforts will create new, good-paying, family-sustaining jobs across the Valley. Additionally, nearly 90% of the infrastructure jobs that will be created in the Build Back Better Act don’t require a college degree. It’s a blue-collar blueprint to revitalize our economy.

I encourage Congressman Harder and our entire federal delegation to support the Build Back Better Act. Our livelihoods, our futures, and our health depend on it.