Interior Department Welcomes President Biden’s American Jobs Plan

Date: Thursday, April 1, 2021 
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior today applauded President Biden’s proposed American Jobs Plan, a bold proposal that will bolster the nation’s infrastructure and create millions of good-paying jobs. The plan contains several provisions that would fund Interior initiatives seeking to address the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, honor our nation-to-nation relationship with Tribes, and invest in a clean energy future. 

“The American Jobs Plan represents an historic investment in the American people, and in particular Tribal and rural communities. From plugging orphan oil and gas wells and cleaning up abandoned mines to creating a new Civilian Climate corps, Interior stands ready to support this sweeping effort to create millions of good-paying jobs, rebuild our country’s infrastructure, and address our pressing climate challenges,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.  

The American Jobs Plan calls for investing $16 billion to put hundreds of thousands to work in union jobs plugging oil and gas wells and restoring and reclaiming abandoned coal, hardrock, and uranium mines. In addition to creating good jobs in hard-hit communities, this investment will reduce the methane and brine that leaks from these wells, just as we invest in reducing leaks from other sources like aging pipes and distribution systems. 

Fulfilling the President’s commitment to addressing the nation’s climate crisis, the plan also calls for establishing a Civilian Climate Corps, a $10 billion effort to put a new generation of Americans to work conserving and restoring public lands and waters, increasing reforestation, increasing carbon sequestration in the agricultural sector, protecting biodiversity, improving access to recreation, and addressing the changing climate. 

The American Jobs Plan will also support our nation’s rural and Tribal communities by targeting funding as part of broader investments to expand broadband coverage and improve roads, bridges, and water systems, and a $5 billion Rural Partnership Program for economic development in rural regions, including Tribal Nations.

This plan comes after the passage of the American Rescue Plan, which contains several provisions that fund Interior initiatives and benefit the communities we directly serve, including Tribal governments and schools, and investment in addressing wildlife-related pandemic concerns. 

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