Larry Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement in support of the America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act, which was released by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works today:
“A safe, efficient, and well-funded transportation system is the backbone of our economy and the lifeline to educational and job opportunities millions of working families rely on.
“This bill is a positive first step towards the reauthorization of our nation’s federal highway, public transit, and other surface transportation programs that are crucial to our economy. A five-year, $287 billion bill — a 27-percent increase over previous funding levels — would serve as an important down payment for America’s infrastructure, and help create and sustain the kinds of good jobs we know are needed.
“Transportation labor thanks Chairman Barrasso and Ranking Member Carper for their bipartisan leadership in moving this bill forward. We are eager to work with the other Congressional committees needed to ensure major investments in our roads, bridges, rail lines, and transit systems are approved on time and at the funding levels working people have been fighting for.”