Washington, D.C. (April 30, 2026) — United for Infrastructure has launched Building a Stronger America, a campaign highlighting how infrastructure investment is strengthening communities and calling on Congress to support long‑term, reliable federal funding to maintain the progress made toward maintaining and modernizing our nation’s infrastructure. Elevating the ground-level impact of federal infrastructure funding is particularly critical as the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is anticipated to markup the surface transportation reauthorization bill in May.
The campaign brings together local leaders, businesses, labor, and community organizations to share real stories of how infrastructure improvements — from safer roads and bridges to clean water, modern transit, broadband access, and resilient energy systems — are delivering results for people across the country. The historic Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is set to expire in September, and Congress is debating what to include in a new transportation bill.
“Using our collective voices to share stories of the local and state-level impact of federal infrastructure funding and the need for greater investment is more important than ever,” said Ross van Dongen, Director of United for Infrastructure. “The IIJA addressed decades of underinvestment in our nation’s transportation, freight, rail, water, broadband, and transit systems. We must sustain that momentum, while addressing persistent funding and permitting challenges, to build a stronger America for current and future generations.”
See the Building a Stronger America videos from officials across America.
In May, United for Infrastructure will bring together membership organizations, infrastructure-focused advocacy groups, the private sector, and federal, state, and local leaders for the 14th annual Infrastructure Week, May 18-22, 2026, to continue spotlighting the critical importance of continued infrastructure investment. In addition to locally led events nationwide, United for Infrastructure will host its signature Infrastructure Week event on May 19 in Washington, D.C. at a time as Transportation and Infrastructure committee members continue to work on surface transportation reauthorization bill language.
In a September 2025 letter, United for Infrastructure and its partners asked to House Transportation and Infrastructure and Senate Environment and Public Works leadership to:
- Maintain Robust, Sustained Federal Funding,
- Ensure Highway Trust Fund Solvency Through Modern User-Fee Models,
- Streamline Permitting and Approval Processes, and
- Prioritize Investments in Resilience, Innovation, and Workforce.
The IIJA allowed individual communities, their state partners, and whole regions to begin addressing the nation’s significant backlog of infrastructure maintenance; however, the U.S. still faces an estimated $3.7 trillion gap in funding to bring our nation’s infrastructure into a state of good repair, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.
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About United for Infrastructure
United for Infrastructure (UFI) is a national nonprofit coalition representing businesses, labor, elected officials and their membership organizations, think tanks, and advocates committed to advancing infrastructure policies that enhance economic competitiveness, improve safety for all users, support a skilled workforce, and build resilience into the systems that connect our nation. UFI is led by a Steering Committee comprised of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, American Society of Civil Engineers, Business Roundtable, National Association of Counties, National Association of Manufacturers, National League of Cities, North America’s Building Trade Unions, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and The Value of Water Campaign.
Quotes from Business, Labor and Advocacy Organizations
Marsha Anderson Bomar, Ph.D, P.E., President, American Society of Civil Engineers
“For decades, ASCE has warned that billions of dollars of underinvestment in our nation’s infrastructure puts our communities, economy, and quality of life at risk. The Building a Stronger America campaign elevates the urgent need for sustained federal funding that keeps pace with the demands of a modern nation. Reliable investment ensures safer roads, stronger bridges, and infrastructure systems that support growth for generations.”
Erin Streeter, Executive Vice President, National Association of Manufacturers
“The strength of manufacturing in America is reliant on an infrastructure system that has supply chains that deliver, commutes that work, and communities that thrive. This is why Congress must move a surface transportation reauthorization bill along with permitting reform legislation this year. To lead in the 21st century, we can’t rely on a 20th-century backbone. Our global competitiveness depends on a seamless, high-speed infrastructure — from the runways and waterways that connect us to the world, to the roads and bridges that link our factory floors to our customers’ doors. If we don’t invest in a world-class system now, we’re ceding our American firepower.”
Matt Chase, CEO and Executive Director, National Association of Counties
“Counties are on the front lines of America’s infrastructure renewal — maintaining the roads, bridges and water systems that communities need to succeed. The Building a Stronger America campaign underscores the importance of federal partnership with local governments to deliver safe, resilient and reliable infrastructure. Together, we can close funding gaps and ensure every county has the tools to build for the future.”
Kevin Kramer, President of the National League of Cities and Louisville, Kentucky Councilmember
“Local leaders experience firsthand how investments in existing infrastructure transforms neighborhoods, supports local businesses, and improves daily life. Through the Building a Stronger America campaign, we’re proud to highlight the stories of federal infrastructure
partnerships with cities, towns and villages that are rebuilding safer streets, expanding mobility options and strengthening resilience for the future.”
Transportation Trades Department, AFL‑CIO
“America’s infrastructure is only as strong as the workers who build, operate, and maintain it. The Building a Stronger America campaign underscores what we know to be true: long‑term federal investment must go hand‑in‑hand with strong labor standards, robust training pathways, safe workplaces, and good union jobs. When we invest in workers, we invest in our nation’s future.”
John Drake, Vice President, Transportation, Infrastructure, and Supply Chain Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
“Strong infrastructure is the foundation of a strong economy. Through the Building a Stronger America campaign, we’re proud to support long‑term federal investment that enhances competitiveness, accelerates innovation, and creates jobs in every corner of the country. This is the moment to build for the future.”
Scott Berry, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, US Water Alliance
“Our nation’s prosperity depends on reliable water systems that safeguard public health and power economic growth. The Building a Stronger America campaign underscores what the 2026 Value of Water Index makes unmistakably clear: Americans overwhelmingly support greater investment in water infrastructure, and they expect leaders at every level to act. Investing in modern, resilient water systems means investing in long-term economic strength. Every dollar we put toward upgrading our water infrastructure helps secure clean, safe water for communities today and for generations to come.”
Rory Linehan, Director of Infrastructure Policy Advancement, Bentley Systems
“Across the United States, infrastructure leaders are navigating aging systems, growing demand, and increasing climate risk. Through our work with cities, agencies, and industry partners, and initiatives like Building a Stronger America, we’re seeing a shift toward more connected, data-driven approaches, where better information is helping to align planning, delivery, and operations. That shift is critical. When infrastructure is managed as a system, supported by the right data and digital tools, it performs better, costs less over time, and delivers more resilient outcomes for the communities it serves.”
Jon Phillips, Chief Executive, The Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA)
“Americans need better infrastructure, which means state leaders need to work with the private sector to get more projects delivered faster. Public-private partnerships (P3s) are already transforming airports, modernising highways, and delivering social infrastructure in communities across the country. Collaborative financing with private investors can herald a new golden age – building the projects that will serve America into the future.”
David Goldwater, Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Stantec
“Infrastructure is the foundation for thriving, connected communities. The Building a Stronger America campaign reflects our shared commitment to designing solutions that help communities build resilience and overcome their greatest challenges. Together, we’re contributing to projects that empower people and strengthen the places they call home.”
Select Quotes from Local Elected Officials
Miami, Fla. Mayor Eileen Higgins
“Infrastructure projects only happen when local, state, and federal governments partner together. Miami’s new BRT system, for example, is connecting low-income individuals to good paying jobs. It has spurred billions of dollars in housing and office development; new businesses are opening. This never would have happened without federal funding. It is critical that Congress continue to robustly fund infrastructure projects nationwide and allow cities to access those funds directly.”
Phoenix, Ariz. Kate Gallego
“Improving American infrastructure is important to our national competitiveness, economy, and quality of life for residents in communities across the country. In Phoenix, thanks to our voters and federal funding, we’ve made critical investments in railway safety, public transit, traffic efficiency and pedestrian safety on major roadways, and in Sky Harbor International Airport–a major economic engine for our city. These projects demonstrate how investment in public infrastructure improves people’s day-to-day lives.”
Kansas City, Mo. Mayor Quinton Lucas
“Building a Stronger America matters because we need investment in our communities, in our roads, in projects like the Kansas City Streetcar line, which has expanded rail access connecting parts of our city, and in the bridge projects that are ending divides that have split neighborhoods for far too long. Federally supported transit and infrastructure investments are helping people get to work more easily, attracting new housing development in underserved areas, and allowing us to welcome a growing population of new residents. We need strong federal support to revitalize decaying infrastructure and to build the projects that will build the America of tomorrow.”
Chattanooga, Tenn. Mayor Tim Kelly
“Federal investments in and support for our infrastructure — from our downtown smart grid to the long‑overdue replacement of the Chickamauga Lock — are paving the way for more responsive infrastructure and a stronger regional economy. Modernizing the lock will cut wait times dramatically and support the movement of more than a million tons of goods each year, while our smart grid will increase driving safety and efficiency. We still have work to do, alongside our Congressional leaders, to speed up project delivery and make our infrastructure more efficient so our economy can keep growing. We can’t do that without strong federal partnership.”
Tempe, Ariz. Mayor Corey Woods
“Robust investment in our nation’s infrastructure is critical to staying competitive in the global economy and ensuring that we have the highest paying jobs and highest quality of life. We
couldn’t do this with just local dollars. We need federal support to invest in efficient, safe, and resilient infrastructure.”
Athens, Ohio Mayor Steve Patterson
“Building a stronger America matters because, at the end of the day, it is the cities, towns, and villages across our nation that bolster the national economy and move us forward. Congress must continue to provide federal support directly to local communities because it is the local elected officials who know what projects and where infrastructure investment is needed most. Without this support, we would not be able to fund important projects like the Stimson Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation.”
St. Petersburg, Fla. City Councilmember Gina Driscoll
“Over the past few years, the increased federal investment in local infrastructure projects has been a wonderful catalyst for progress toward making our streets safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians and funding deferred maintenance projects. I join other local leaders from across the country as we urge Congress to maintain robust and sustained infrastructure funding.”