Washington, DC — Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement in response to the “Blueprint to Rebuild America’s Infrastructure,” a trillion dollar, federally funded infrastructure plan announced yesterday by several U.S. Senators:
“We applaud Senator Chuck Schumer and several of his colleagues for advancing the critical debate about the need to invest in our failing infrastructure through the introduction of a new blueprint yesterday. This infrastructure package, which reflects the levels of investment endorsed by President Trump, will grow and modernize our economy and put millions to work at a time when middle class job creation remains stagnant.
“Although Washington is still in the grips of fierce partisanship, infrastructure investment gives us a chance to find bipartisan cooperation and break the political stalemate. This robust package directs a much-needed federal infusion of new spending to mounting transportation infrastructure needs. Like the President, it endorses strong Buy America provisions which will ensure that federal transportation dollars spent will maximize U.S. manufacturing job creation. And the package embraces good jobs by applying longstanding labor protections to ensure the jobs created under this proposal are the kind working people can raise families on.
“Investing in our failing infrastructure was a unifying theme in the 2016 election. The only way to move a serious investment initiative forward is for the President and congressional Republicans and Democrats to come together to negotiate a strong package. Senator Schumer has offered a serious plan that meets the President’s objectives on scale, job creation and Buy America commitments.
“I hope the Administration and leaders in Congress, in both parties, come together early this year and work out the details of a $1 trillion infrastructure investment plan. Our nation’s communities, working people and businesses need Washington to act swiftly and boldly.”
[download_box title=”Statement on Senators’ Blueprint to Rebuild America’s Infrastructure” size=”512mb” description=”PDF Version” url=”https://ttd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1.24.17-Sen-Dems-infrastructure-plan.docx.pdf”]