Biden Touts “Joe Biden Way” and “Joe Biden Expressway” Named After Him, Repeats Build Back Better Won’t Raise Taxes as Pittsburgh Bridge Collapses

On 1/29/2022, President Biden traveled to Pittsburgh to deliver an infrastructure speech on the same day a more-than-50-year-old bridge collapsed in the city. Biden used the occasion to tout roads named after him in Scranton, repeat his claim that Build Back Better would not raise taxes on anyone making under $400,000, and highlight the 3,300 bridges in Pennsylvania rated in poor condition. He also shared that Pittsburgh has more bridges than any other city in the world — something he said he never knew despite visiting “a lot."

"Joe Biden Way” and “Joe Biden Expressway”

Biden opened with personal anecdotes about his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania. “His dad was much older than me,” Biden said of a local contact. “But we lived — I lived in North Washington Avenue. You notice they changed the end of the road name. It’s the Joe Biden Way now. You know? No, really, you see that?”

He continued: “I shouldn’t say this. I’m going to get in trouble in Delaware. I used to drive up Route 81 all the time to get to Scranton, but also to get up to Syracuse when I was at Syracuse Law School. And they now — the entrance to get to Scranton off 81 is the Joe Biden Expressway.”

“So I’m coming home, Bobby. I’m coming home,” Biden said.

Bridge Collapse in Pittsburgh

Biden addressed the dramatic collapse of a Pittsburgh bridge that had occurred the same morning. “A bridge, more than 50 years old — it says 50 years old, but I thought it was older — collapsed right here in Pittsburgh,” Biden said. “It had been rated in poor condition for the past 10 years.”

He used the collapse to underscore his infrastructure agenda. “What you all know, if you don’t you should know — there are another 3,300 bridges here in Pennsylvania, some of which are just as old and just as decrepit-conditioned as that bridge was,” Biden said. “Including here in Pittsburgh, the city of bridges.”

“I’ve been coming to Pittsburgh a long time. I’m a Pennsylvania kid. I was born and raised the first part of my life in Pennsylvania,” Biden said. “But all these years, I never knew — I never knew Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had more bridges than any other city in the world.”

Build Back Better Won’t Raise Taxes — Again

Biden repeated his signature economic pledge. “This plan will not cost the American people a single penny beyond — no one making less than $400,000 will pay a single additional penny in their taxes. That’s it,” Biden said. “And it reduces the deficit.”

He claimed major corporations supported the legislation even though it would increase their taxes. “That’s why those major corporations came to the White House asking to see me to tell me they supported Build Back Better, even though it was going to increase their taxes. Going to increase their taxes,” Biden said.

Biden again cited the 17 Nobel laureates letter. “I told you about the impact of the 17 Nobel laureates saying it’s going to decrease inflation, not increase it,” he said.

The Emotional Appeal on Childcare

Biden made an emotional argument about the cost of childcare. “In addition to your child, it strips you of your dignity, damn it,” Biden said. “Can you imagine? Look at your child and you know what they need and not be able to do it? Imagine. Many of you have lost children. Many of you have seen. Imagine. It’s outrageous. And we have an answer.”

Zero Traffic Deaths Goal

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced an ambitious target. “Today we commit that our goal is this: zero. Our goal is zero deaths,” Buttigieg said. “A country where one day nobody has to say goodbye to a loved one because of a traffic crash. I understand the scale of the challenge and the ambition represented by that goal. And I understand that we may not get there during my tenure as secretary.”

Election Night in Scranton

Biden revealed a personal detail about election night 2020. “The first thing I asked about the election results — I said, how did I do in Scranton? I want every precinct,” Biden said.

Key Takeaways

Biden touted having a street (“Joe Biden Way”) and an expressway (“Joe Biden Expressway”) named after him in his hometown of Scranton.
A Pittsburgh bridge rated in “poor condition” for 10 years collapsed the same morning Biden arrived to give an infrastructure speech — underscoring the need for the $1.2 trillion infrastructure law.
Biden repeated that Build Back Better would not raise taxes on anyone making under $400,000 and claimed it would “decrease inflation.”
He said he never knew Pittsburgh had more bridges than any other city in the world despite visiting “a lot” over the years.
Transportation Secretary Buttigieg announced a “zero traffic deaths” goal while acknowledging it may not be achievable during his tenure.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

You notice they changed the end of the road name. It’s the Joe Biden Way now. The entrance to get to Scranton off 81 is the Joe Biden Expressway.
A bridge, more than 50 years old, collapsed right here in Pittsburgh. It had been rated in poor condition for the past 10 years.
There are another 3,300 bridges here in Pennsylvania, some of which are just as old and just as decrepit-conditioned as that bridge was.
This plan will not cost the American people a single penny. No one making less than $400,000 will pay a single additional penny in their taxes.
In addition to your child, it strips you of your dignity, damn it. Can you imagine? Look at your child and you know what they need and not be able to do it?
Today we commit that our goal is this: zero. Our goal is zero deaths.

Full transcript: 695 words transcribed via Whisper AI.