Biden-Harris Administration Archives

Following multiple letters submitted and concerted outreach to the United States Department of Transportation by SMART Governmental Affairs staff, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority secured $5.1 billion from the federal government to help fund the construction of four new Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations. The extension, part of a broad effort to expand transportation rail connectivity in the Bay Area, represents the second-largest federal investment in any transportation project — and the largest outside of New York City.

“This will put Local 104 members to work for years to come, and it’s a direct example of the Biden-Harris administration’s willingness to fund major infrastructure projects — built union,” said Local 104 (Northern California) State Legislative Director Vince Sugrue. “This work will be performed under a PLA.”

SMART members and leaders from across the country met with the Biden-Harris administration on Wednesday, June 12 — bringing the voice of members and working-class families directly to the White House.

“This doesn’t just happen in any administration,” said SMART Local 7 (Lansing, Mich.) Organizer John Coleman.

The SMART Army delegation included members of Locals 85 (Georgia); 7, 80 and 292 (Michigan); 24 and 33 (Ohio); 26 and 88 (Nevada); 12, 19 and 44 (Pennsylvania); and 18 and 565 (Wisconsin). Joined by staff from the SMART Governmental Affairs Department, members met with Director of the Office of Public Engagement Steve Benjamin, United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Administrator Jessica Looman, White House Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi and Betony Jones, director of the Office of Clean Energy Jobs, among others.

Local leadership shared updates on clean energy projects — staffed by SMART members — that are driving our nation’s transition to a sustainable future, as well as ways to partner with the administration and create jobs for union workers moving forward. The roundtable discussions also detailed how the federal government’s investment in American manufacturing and green energy is creating union jobs, plus actions taken to raise wages for construction workers and protect SMART members’ rights at work.