- Majorities report hearing about Biden signing infrastructure legislation into law and support it.
- Support for the new legislation grows after reading about policies included, with top items being upgrading water systems, roads and bridges, power grids, and internet access.
- Overall, the strongest messaging lanes emphasize popular policies in the new infrastructure legislation.
Passage of Infrastructure Legislation Dominates Positive Conversation Around Biden This Week
Nearly four in five Democrats (79%), 47% of independents, and 24% of Republicans report hearing something positive about Biden in the last week, with the passage of infrastructure legislation rising to the top for Americans regardless of party.
On Issues Related to New Infrastructure Legislation, Biden and Democrats Are More Trusted
Among independents, Biden and Democrats are more trusted to handle the “cost of living for working families” by 7 points and to work “across the aisle to accomplish bipartisan priorities” by 4 points; the Republican Party has a 2-point advantage on “looking out for people who work for a living.”
Three in Four Are Hearing About Biden Signing New Infrastructure Legislation into Law and a Majority Support It
Across party, race, and ethnicity, at least two in three are hearing “a lot” or “some” about Biden signing new infrastructure legislation into law, and 54% support it even before reading specifics about what is in the legislation.
After Reading Some of the Policies in the Infrastructure Law, Support for the Law Jumps to Two in Three Americans
Before reading some of the policies included in the new infrastructure legislation, net support is at +25 overall and +22 among independents; after reading, net support jumps to +40 overall and among independents.
Top Policies from Infrastructure Legislation Include Water Systems, Roads and Bridges, Power Grids, and Internet Access
Bipartisan majorities support upgrading water pipes, improving roads and bridges, upgrading power grids, expanding internet access, job training for construction and trucking, and encouraging women to enter construction and trucking.
The Strongest Message About the Infrastructure Law Is One Emphasizing Its Impactful Policies
Across party, race, and ethnicity, highlighting popular policies from the legislation is more effective than other lanes including a contrast message against Trump, competitiveness against China, and inflation.
In Rebuttal to Conservative Criticism on Spending, Popular Infrastructure Policies and Bipartisanship Are Both Effective
In direct response to a conservative argument that the new infrastructure legislation is another massive spending package that will drive up inflation, progressive responses that focus on specific policies in the legislation or on bipartisanship are both effective.
Congressional Republicans Are Negatively Viewed as Obstructionists, Including on Infrastructure
A majority of Americans report hearing “mostly negative” or a “mix of positive and negative” things about Republicans in Congress this week, including 65% of Democrats, 54% of independents, and 42% of Republicans.
Nearly Two in Three Americans Prefer Republicans in Congress Work With Biden and Democrats Rather Than Block Them
Nearly seven in ten independents (68%) and 32% of Republicans would rather Congressional Republicans work with Biden and Democrats to pass legislation than to block anything proposed by Biden and Democrats.
About The Study
This release features findings from a national online survey of 1,000 registered voters conducted November 18-22, 2021. Additional interviews were conducted among 101 Hispanic voters, 102 African American voters, 100 independents without a partisan lean, and 70 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.
