LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — President Joe Biden landed in Las Vegas just before 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday amid a call from Governor Lombardo to discuss releasing federal land to create affordable housing opportunities.
Watch below as the president spoke at Stupak Community Center in Las Vegas where he discussed housing assistance programs in the state and across the nation. Congresswomen Susie Lee and Dina Titus also offered remarks alongside Congressman Steven Horsford.
Biden mentioned several large projects including "America's first high speed rail line," referring to the planned Brightline West train from Las Vegas to the Los Angeles area and 195,000 small business applications in Nevada since he took office, noting that small businesses make up half of the country's GDP.
He touted two of what he said are big wins, the Infrastructure Act — which he said funneled $3.4 billion to Nevada for various projects — and the American Rescue Plan that helped ease the pain of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Now, my American Rescue Plan, which I might add not a single, solitary Republican voted for, provided $350 billion to state and local governments, including funds for every city, county, town, tribe in this state," Biden said. "And your state put that money to good use: you put cops on the beat, teachers in the classroom, kept small businesses on their feet and families in their homes."
The president predicted inflation would ease, and with it, high mortgage interest rates, which keep people from being able to afford a home loan.
"It works. What we've been doing works to increase housing supply and to keep costs down in the future," Biden said. "First, for homeowners, inflation keeps coming down, it's predicted to do that. Mortgage rates are going to come down as well. But I'm not going to wait. I'm not going to wait."
But Republicans criticized Biden on that very point. The Republican National Committee issued a pair of statements, one of which noted that interest rates have more than doubled under Biden's administration. That, the party said, would cost him at the polls.
"Nevada's families are being crushed by Joe Biden's failures, from historic inflation and an open border to skyrocketing overdose deaths across the state," the RNC statement reads. "Nevadans want results, not lip service — which is why they'll vote to elect [former] President Donald J. Trump in November."
Biden and a bipartisan group of lawmakers have introduced an immigration bill to address problems at the border, but opposition from Trump, among others, has stalled any votes on the measure.
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo also criticized Biden in a letter released Tuesday, calling on the president to free up federal land in Nevada that could be used for development, including housing.
"Despite spending billions on laws like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the federal government still struggles to efficiently deliver on public land conveyances due to a lack of resources and manpower," Lombardo wrote. "Our communities should not have to wait years for the federal government to act, particularly when Congress has already passed laws to de-federalize land."
Most of Nevada's public lands are owned or managed by the federal government, although the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act allows federal agencies to sell parcels to be developed.
3.18.24_Governor Lombardo L... by Steve.Sebelius
Biden didn't address Lombardo's comments, but did tout a proposed tax credit that would allow first-time homebuyers — and those looking to move into a larger home — a tax credit of $400 per month. He said that would spur an increase in homeownership across the country.
MORE: President Biden touts $3B high-speed rail investment in Las Vegas on December 8
Tuesday's visit marked the second presidential visit in Las Vegas in just three months. Biden previously traveled to our neighbors in the North, Reno, and will depart the valley for Phoenix.
JUST NOW: President Joe Biden is greeted by Reps. Steven Horsford and Dina Titus as he lands in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/eMVYEuAWuV
— KTNV | Channel 13 News Las Vegas (@KTNV) March 19, 2024
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