The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, led by Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY), last week sat down with leaders of Building America’s Future to talk over forming plans for tackling America’s decaying infrastructure.
The lawmakers appreciated the opportunity to discuss the problem of decrepit bridges, highways and railways with Building America’s Future Co-Chairs former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. That coalition of elected officials seeks to advance investment in U.S. infrastructure.
“Our mission is to find bipartisan solutions to our nation’s most pressing issues, which include making drastic improvements to our infrastructure,” said Reed. “Like the rest of the country, New York is long overdue for the positive effects this will also have on job growth and our economy. We are thankful to gain insight and support from Governor Rendell and Secretary LaHood and look forward to continuing our work to build a better future.”
The Problem Solvers Caucus has established a working group led by Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) that is holding stakeholder meetings toward creating a workable bipartisan infrastructure plan. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) serves with Reed as the Problem Solvers Caucus co-chair.
“Both sides of the aisle agree that our infrastructure crisis has gone unaddressed for far too long,” said Katko. He called the meeting “a positive step forward as we continue to develop bipartisan reforms and policy ideas to fix our nation’s crumbling roads and bridges and set us on a path towards sustainable infrastructure.”
LaHood and Rendell stressed the need for solid infrastructure funding.
LaHood told the House members their constituents “are sick and tired of potholes and crumbling roads. Investing in infrastructure is not only an economic development opportunity for your friends and neighbors, it’s a no-brainer.”
He added, “We can’t rebuild America unless we have funding and that starts with raising the gas tax. Infrastructure must be a national priority or we will continue to fall behind as a nation.”
Congress must work together with the Trump administration to formulate a bipartisan bill that provides long-term funding for infrastructure, Rendell said.
“Refusing to maintain infrastructure is like refusing to maintain your car. If you refuse to invest, it will stop running,” said Rendell. “We must look at infrastructure in terms of a robust investment. It’s an investment because we are creating something of value that is impactful,” he added.