BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Labor shortages in the Lehigh Valley were the focus at a recent telephone town hall held by U.S Rep. Susan Wild (D-Lehigh/Monroe).
No matter the industry, labor shortages have been a concern nationally and throughout the region over the past few months.
Asked how she might help support job growth, Wild said that President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill could help.
“How are we going to get all of these people back to work? I firmly believe a big part of that is going to be done through the Build Back Better Act which includes substantial provisions for child care and early childhood education which would free up a lot of parents to be able to get back into the workplace,” she said.
Wild pointed out that federal pandemic unemployment benefits ended in September, so there is more incentive for people to head back to work. She said the infrastructure package would address issues that have long been neglected.
“The Build Back Better Act is more of a series of what I consider to be groundbreaking programs to address issues that haven’t been dealt with in this country ever, or at least not adequately, specifically the issue of child care and early childhood education,” she said.
The infrastructure bill is still being debated in Congress and leaders in the Democratic party have said they would like to see it pass by the end of the month.
Reports call passage of the infrastructure bill crucial to Democrats in contested seats, like Wild’s in next year’s midterm elections.
