The Legislative Outline for Rebuilding Infrastructure in America begins by addressing Congress directly. While unsigned, the statement appears to come from President Donald Trump, as it refers several times to “my administration.”
To help build a better future for all Americans, I ask the Congress to act soon on an infrastructure bill that will: stimulate at least $1.5 trillion in new investment over the next 10 years, shorten the process for approving projects to 2 years or less, address unmet rural infrastructure needs, empower State and local authorities, and train the American workforce of the future.
The remainder of the 53-page document is divided into four sections:
- Funding and Financing Infrastructure Improvements, focusing on various ways the federal government might be involved in infrastructure financing;
- Additional Provisions for Infrastructure Improvements, outlining specific tenets for transportation, water, land revitalization and veterans’ affairs;
- Infrastructure Permitting Improvement, offering a proposal to reduce permitting times for construction projects;
- and Workforce Development, discussing education and licensing requirements.
The following reactions to the White House infrastructure proposal have been expressed by stakeholders in the political arena and infrastructure-related industries.
The goal of the President’s proposal is to stimulate at least $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investment, which includes a minimum of $200 billion in direct federal funding. And a key element is to empower decision-making at the state and the local level because state and local officials know best the infrastructure needs of their communities.
–Elaine Chao, United States Secretary of Transportation
This is not a real infrastructure plan—it is simply another scam, an attempt to sell our nation’s infrastructure and create windfall profit for Wall Street while rolling back environmental protections. Democrats propose A Better Deal to Rebuild America – an infrastructure plan that is five times bigger than President Trump’s proposal. This proposal provides $1 trillion in Federal funding to rebuild our crumbling roads, bridges, transit systems, ports, harbors, airports and schools, extend high-speed internet to every family in America and put more than 16 million people to work.
–Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR)
Today’s proposal recognizes the urgency of tackling the bureaucratic hurdles that needlessly delay infrastructure projects…Real action to streamline the permitting process will help jumpstart projects that are vital to our communities and our economy. Already in this Congress, the House has passed dozens of infrastructure reforms, and we look forward to working with the administration on this critical issue.
-Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), Speaker of the House
For years, plenty of people have been willing to talk about modernizing our nation’s infrastructure, but few have been willing to take action. We applaud the Trump administration for laying out its vision for moving ahead on this critical issue…A few weeks ago, we turned up the volume on the infrastructure conversation by offering up a few ideas of our own, and it’s encouraging to see that this administration shares our commitment to tackling this challenge in a meaningful way – and soon. This will be no small undertaking. America’s infrastructure needs are significant and there’s a lot of work ahead, but now is the time to get to it.
Thomas J. Donahue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
One cannot claim to be investing in infrastructure on the one hand while cutting it with the other. The president’s infrastructure plan is merely a shell game, ‘investing’ money that his budget proposes to cut from other vital transportation and infrastructure programs. Taken together, they provide zero new dollars to invest in our country’s pressing infrastructure needs.
-Kevin F. Thompson, Director, Transportation For America (T4America)
While the president calls for new resources for rural communities to support brownfields and broadband, he simultaneously proposes draconian funding cuts to critical federal programs that these local communities depend on, including HOME Investment Partnerships, Community Development Block Grants and the TIGER competitive transportation grant program.
-Smart Growth America
We commend the administration for focusing on the need to reinvest in America’s infrastructure. We also applaud the administration’s proposal to give states flexibility to toll interstate highways to help rebuild them. While tolling is not appropriate in every circumstance, it is a proven tool that speeds project delivery and provides a steady stream of funding for future road maintenance and improvements. We look forward to working closely with the administration and Congress on a robust plan to improve America’s vital transportation infrastructure.
-Patrick D. Jones, Executive Director & CEO, International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA)
-Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
-Signed by 28 organizations, including Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council and American RiversView an excerpt and download the full proposal here: Legislative Outline for Rebuilding Infrastructure in America
Tags: Infrastructure Proposal, Legislative Outline for Rebuilding Infrastructure in America, Reactions to the White House Infrastructure Proposal, Trump Infrastructure Plan
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