The chairman of three U.S. House Committees recently released a framework for a five-year, $760 billion investment in infrastructure.
The proposal increased the federal government’s role in addressing the nation’s massive maintenance backlog.
The framework was proposed by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman, Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), Ways and Means Committee chairman, and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Energy and Commerce Committee chairman.
“There is no better way to strengthen our economy for the future than to modernize our badly aging infrastructure,” Pallone said. “This bold framework not only helps us rebuild our nation, it also combats climate change by reducing carbon emissions and moving us towards a clean energy future. It will also create good paying jobs, ensure that no community is left behind in the digital economy, and help protect Americans’ drinking water. These are investments that we must make for the American people, and I look forward to moving this proposal forward.”
Ten key points are included in the framework. They are: Modernizing 911 public safety networks; prioritizing the safety of the traveling public; providing safe, clean, and affordable water and wastewater services; creating family-wage jobs with the Davis-Bacon Act and other strong worker protections; ensuring a transportation system that is green, affordable, reliable, efficient and provides access to jobs; supporting American industries through strong buy-America protections; expanding broadband internet access for unserved and underserved rural, suburban, and urban communities; combating climate change by creating good-paying jobs in clean energy, investing in energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas pollution; bring existing infrastructure into good repair and enable the completion of critical projects through long-term, sustainable funding; and sets a path toward zero carbon pollution from the transportation sector, creating jobs, protecting our natural resources, promoting environmental justice, and increasing resilience to climate change.
Following the release of the proposal, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued statements of support.
“All policymakers and stakeholders should be clear-eyed there will be no infrastructure initiative without equivalent passion and commitment devoted to paying for these needed investments,” ARTBA President and CEO Dave Bauer said. “We urge infrastructure supporters and all relevant committees to work with the Ways & Means Committee to develop and support the robust revenue plan necessary to turn years of infrastructure visions into reality.”
“Rebuilding our country and ensuring our roads and bridges, ports, airports, rail lines, and transit systems can meet the needs of a 21st-century economy will require robust federal funding and serious leadership from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle,” Larry Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department said. “With surface transportation and rail authorizations expiring in October, we urge lawmakers to treat this proposal with the seriousness it requires and to work in a bipartisan fashion to address our nation’s most pressing infrastructure challenges.”