Earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) signed on as a co-sponsor for the Building and Renewing Infrastructure for Development and Growth in Employment (BRIDGE) Act.
The legislation, written by Mark Warner (D-VA) and Roy Blunt (R-MO), aims to establish a revised financing arm for infrastructure projects, assisting states and localities with leveraging private monies to build, repair and maintain the nation’s aging roads, highways and bridges.
“Attracting private investment in infrastructure is often too cumbersome and complex for many small towns and counties,” Wicker said. “This innovative plan would address that problem by providing much-needed assistance for these rural communities to get the funds they sorely need. I am particularly pleased that the proposal sets aside dedicated funding to rural states, such as Mississippi.”
The BRIDGE Act would help to address the growing concern in the lack of investment for maintaining restoring the nation’s transportation network, along with water and wastewater systems as well as energy grid infrastructure. The bill would provide an additional financing opportunity for states and localities to create new jobs as the improvement projects are realized, at the same time increasing America’s economic competitiveness.
“The BRIDGE Act is not a ‘silver bullet’ to magically close America’s infrastructure gap, but this bipartisan proposal creates smart new tools to help our states and localities unlock billions of dollars in additional private investments at a time of very favorable interest rates,” Warner said. “The BRIDGE Act will create jobs, keep American businesses competitive and expand U.S. commerce and trade. At a time when Congress has once again kicked the can down the road — passing 33 short-term patches instead of a long-term surface transportation bill — this legislation demonstrates that there is a real willingness to work together in a responsible, bipartisan way to get moving on important investment priorities.”
“Infrastructure has long been an integral part of our economy,” Blunt said. “Across Missouri and the nation, our farmers, ranchers, manufacturers and workers rely on strong infrastructure and transportation systems to move goods and services as quickly as possible.”
The measure has the support of a contingent of eight other senators, representing both parties, as well as a large group of stakeholders and industry leadership groups, including the Transportation Construction Coalition, American Association of Port Authorities, American Trucking Association, American Society of Civil Engineers and the Bipartisan Policy Center.