Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg delivers remarks to tribal leaders about the American Jobs Plan on April 16, 2021.

“We can’t talk about jobs and infrastructure without acknowledging that many of America’s original residents are living without clean water,” Buttigieg said during the virtual meeting. “Or without stable electricity, without public sewer access or indoor plumbing sometimes without reliable public transit or broadband internet, too many have been asked to expect to drive on crumbling roads or to make homes in overcrowded buildings.

“And we know in the third decade of the 21st century, that this is an unacceptable state of affairs, and that’s why this administration, including my department, are at work to change that,” Buttigieg said.

The American Jobs Plan invests tens of billions of dollars directly in tribal communities, offering historic opportunities to improve housing, broadband, roads and more in Indian Country.

Learn more from the White House. #AmericanJobsPlan #NationToNationhttps://t.co/KNFIMFnPT0

— indianz.com (@indianz) April 16, 2021

The American Jobs Plan, as proposed by President Joe Biden, promises to bring tens of billions of dollars directly to tribes to address employment, infrastructure, housing and other needs in their communities. It would also provide hundreds of billions of dollars to other programs for which tribes would be eligible.

“From his very first days in office, President Biden made it clear that restoring this government’s sacred relationship with tribal nations is a true priority,” Buttigieg said.

“The American Jobs Plan is part of that commitment,” Buttigieg noted. “The president’s proposal calls for tens of billions of dollars in direct infrastructure investments that will benefit tribal communities. With that plan, we will be in a position together to repair America’s crumbling infrastructure and better care for the people and resources that support our country.”

White House Fact Sheet: The American Jobs Plan Supports Tribal Communities (April 16, 2021)