Infrastructure deal is crucial to rebuilding

After reading the article (June 29, “Sen. Toomey sees ‘better than even’ chance at infrastructure deal, criticizes Biden’s spending policies”), I felt compelled to respond.

I would argue as a native Pittsburgher that the infrastructure deal is crucial to rebuilding our community. Sen. Pat Toomey introduced a legitimate point that raising monumental taxes on businesses to help fund this deal is not the answer. Many businesses located in Pittsburgh are small and family owned. COVID-19 forced many of them to close their doors. They should not be relied upon to fix their community when many are still struggling.

As an intern at The Borgen Project, a national nonprofit that works to make global poverty a focus of U.S. foreign policy, I have learned the importance of infrastructure as a gateway to successful development. Without solid infrastructure, an area cannot function properly, thereby inhibiting its ability to create a sustainable future.

Humanitarian efforts in poverty-ridden areas often come from outside members of a community enacting change without fully understanding the problems at hand. This approach is unsuccessful and ultimately detrimental to the area. I agree with Mr. Toomey’s point about not raising taxes on corporations, but I do also agree with President Joe Biden’s initiative to create a plan that supports the interests of many, not solely focusing on a singular group or socioeconomic class. Effective change emerges from a bipartisan approach.

LEILA WYNNYCKYJ

Hazelwood