Washington, DC – Larry Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement applauding passage of the INVEST in America Act:
“We applaud the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for putting the needs of working families first by passing the INVEST in America Act. By making unprecedented investments into our nation’s highway, rail, and transit systems, the INVEST in America Act ensures our country can compete in a global, 21st century economy, while creating and sustaining good jobs in construction, operations, maintenance, design, and manufacturing.
“Equally important, by embracing a number of key priorities TTD unions have long fought for, this legislation enhances safety and job security for millions working on the front lines of our transportation system. Important safety provisions include meaningful tools to mitigate the scourge of assaults against transit and passenger rail workers; the establishment of a national public transportation workforce training center; a federal requirement mandating two qualified crewmembers on most freight trains; a national strategy to improve grade-crossing safety; and assurances that U.S. laws and regulations will apply to cross-border rail operations.
“This bill also includes expanded and strong Buy America rules, important worker and service reforms at Amtrak, and policies to help ensure that new technologies will not come at the expense of good union jobs. Finally, the broad and appropriate application of long-standing labor protections to investments included in the bill will ensure that transportation spending continues to create good and safe jobs in this sector.
“We thank Chairman DeFazio, Chair Holmes Norton, and Chairman Lipinski for their leadership in crafting legislation that addresses the long overlooked needs of our transportation network and frontline workers. We also thank the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee members on both sides of the aisle for their positive contributions to this legislation. We urge the full House to quickly consider and pass this historic infrastructure investment plan.”