Washington, DC — AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is pushing hard for a comprehensive
infrastructure repair and upgrade program.
Trumka is urging Congress to provide more tax dollars to rebuild and replace the nation’s breaking bridges, crumbling roads, creaky railroads, aging airports and deteriorating subways. Rebuilding infrastructure also includes new pipelines, transmission lines, electrical grid upgrades, and moves to make the U.S. energy-independent.
There is unanimous agreement from legislators, engineers and experts the critical repairs and upgrades need to take place now – and the cost of doing nothing is greater than the cost of road, bridge and subway repairs. The American Society of Civil Engineers calculate that bringing current infrastructure up to a state of good repair would cost $2 trillion. Modernizing it – including the pipelines, transmission lines and broadband – doubles the sum.
“The only way to advance an infrastructure modernization plan that will get the job done is through a commitment to sustainable, long-term federal funding,” said Trumka. “When done right, infrastructure investment creates good jobs and career paths that can support a family, a child’s education, a secure retirement and a middle-class life.”
The AFL-CIO and our affiliates have long supported a substantial, long-term infrastructure investment plan — one that lifts up working people, grows the economy, creates ‘high road’ jobs and provides increased opportunity for all Americans, said AFL-CIO President Trumka.
