Members of the American Public Works Association (APWA) are encouraged by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the group’s president said Wednesday.
The group said that the legislation, set to be considered and voted on in the coming days, contains several public works priorities supported by APWA.
“With passage of this bill, Senators are demonstrating leadership and standing strong for a broad and robust federal investment in our nation’s roads and bridges, water infrastructure, broadband, cybersecurity, public transit, ports, rail, airports, environmental clean-up, and the electric grid. APWA has been persistently advocating for a surface transportation reauthorization bill and for increased federal investment in our nation’s critical infrastructure,” said APWA President Mary Joyce Ivers. “Public works professionals across the country are committed to planning, designing, building, operating, maintaining, and protecting our critical infrastructure in communities of all sizes, serving all people, every single day.”
The group supports the efforts by Congress to reauthorize surface transportation programs set to expire on September 20, 2021, with the association’s priorities focused on funding, safety, and streamlining. The group said that the bill supports building and retrofitting roads and bridges while leading the country to a cleaner and healthier future.
The bill also seeks investment in water infrastructure and reforms in the federal permitting process while demonstrating strong support for public works first responders, the group said.
“APWA believes in the need for consistent, substantial, and long term investment in our country’s infrastructure, and the Senate approach shows a bipartisan commitment of $550 billion in new federal spending over 5 years which will go a long way towards generational improvements and investments while recognizing the need for local decision making by those who know their communities best,” said APWA CEO Scott D. Grayson, CAE. ”As an association and an industry, the men and women of public works stand ready to continue our work with all members of the House and Senate, and the Biden administration to pass, and then successfully implement a bipartisan infrastructure law.”