By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
Senator Elizabeth Warren Wednesday toured a soon-to-open COVID vaccination site on the New Bedford waterfront, where she praised President Joe Biden’s $2.2 trillion infrastructure bill as “making the investments in America that we have deferred for so long.”
A cavernous metal building once used to neutralize contaminated sediment is being converted to a mass vaccination site, where the city expects provide coronavirus vaccine to 800 to 1,000 people a day, targeting workers in nearby fish processing plants and those who work in food and other service industries.
Until now, the city has only received enough vaccine for about 600 people a week, according to a spokesman.
“This center is a way of saying thank you and opening up vaccinations, so they are here for people who have been here for the rest of America over the past year,” Warren said.
Answering questions from reporters, Warren also praised the massive infrastructure bill unveiled earlier in the day by President Biden in Pennsylvania.
Along with billions for roads, bridges, housing, transportation and other infrastructure spending, Warren said she particularly favored a portion of the president’s package that includes money for child care for working families.
“If we want parents to be able to work, then they need child care,” Warren said.
“We invest in roads and bridges so people can get to work, we need to invest in child care so that parents will be able to work and there’s substantial support for that.
Warren said she favors the President’s proposal to increase the tax rate on corporations to pay for the infrastructure package.
“So, it’s about making those who have the most pay a fair share. I’m ready to have that fight,” Warren said.
