ATSSA encouraged by calls for infrastructure investments by House Democratic leaders

ATSSA was encouraged by this week’s call from House Democratic leaders for another COVID-19 package that includes infrastructure funding.

The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) released a list of priorities the Democratic Caucus is targeting in a fourth COVID-19 economic package, which includes attention to transportation projects and mobility.

The Moving Forward plan calls for recovery by investing in “smarter, safer infrastructure that is made to last” and that would produce “millions of good-paying jobs.”

Below are three points the proposal includes for mobility:

• Delivering better roads and bridges faster, by prioritizing fixing the broken, outdated infrastructure we already have, including the nation’s 47,000 structurally deficient bridges.
• Modernizing our infrastructure with bold new funding for addressing the most impactful projects and bottlenecks that affect local regions and the national transportation network.
• Streamlining project delivery so that our investments get shovels in the ground quicker and commuters see results faster, by reforming the Capital Investment Grant program.

“ATSSA commends Speaker Pelosi, Majority Whip [James] Clyburn and Chairmen [Peter] DeFazio and [Frank] Pallone in calling for investments in infrastructure during the next COVID-19 package,” said ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith. “We strongly urge the House to include additional roadway safety infrastructure investments in this next round to help re-energize the economy and save lives.

“Investments in roadway safety infrastructure projects put people to work and reduce fatalities and serious injuries in all congressional districts around the country. Failing to make these investments now will amount to a massive missed opportunity to save lives and create good-paying American jobs. “

The outline released this week calls for funding for community health centers, clean water and increased access to broadband in addition to transportation infrastructure projects. However, it did not spell out the cost of the items. The Democrat’s original “Moving Forward” proposal, released in January, called for a 5-year, $760 billion investment.