1/31/2020
Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota unveiled House Democrats’ new framework for a five-year, $760 billion investment that would create an estimated 10 million jobs addressing some of the country’s most urgent infrastructure needs, from the massive maintenance backlog, to designing safer streets, to putting the U.S. on a path toward zero carbon pollution from the transportation sector and increasing resiliency. This framework would bolster the Federal role in order to help communities around the country undertake transformative projects that are smarter, safer and made to last.
“I came to Congress to work on the issues facing everyday Americans, like fixing our nation’s crumbling infrastructure and making it easier for communities in my district to prioritize our transportation needs,” said Craig. “I’m proud to support this framework because I believe it is the roadmap we need to put people to work and addressing projects such as adding a lane on Interstate 35 in Lakeville for bus rapid transit and express travel, regrading Highway 52 in Goodhue County, and completing outstanding projects on Trunk Highway 13 that will improve safety in the region; these projects, among many others that reduce traffic and increase safety, are the infrastructure of our future. I look forward to working with my House colleagues and the administration to move forward on infrastructure legislation.”
Among other things, the framework outlines major investments, including those in surface transportation, rail and transit systems, airports, ports and harbors, wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, brownfields and broadband.
It’s infrastructure investment that is smarter, safer and made to last — with a framework that:
– Brings existing infrastructure into a state of good repair and enables the completion of critical projects through long-term, sustainable funding.
– Sets a path toward zero carbon pollution from the transportation sector, creating jobs, protecting our natural resources, promoting environmental justice and increasing resiliency to climate change.
– Ensures a transportation system that is green, affordable, reliable, efficient and provides access to jobs.
– Provides safe, clean and affordable water and wastewater services.
– Prioritizes the safety of the traveling public.
– Helps combat climate change by creating good-paying jobs in clean energy, investing in energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas pollution.
– Expands broadband internet access, adoption for unserved and underserved rural, suburban and urban communities.
– Modernizes 9-1-1 public safety networks.
– Creates family-wage jobs with Davis-Bacon and other strong worker protections.
– Supports U.S. industries, including steel and manufacturing, through strong Buy America protections.
In Congress, Craig serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where she is fighting for an infrastructure package that prioritizes the safety and economic opportunity of Minnesotans. Recently, she worked with local mayors in her district to introduce the Resilience Revolving Loan Fund Act of 2019, a bipartisan bill that would provide low interest loans for communities to invest in disaster prevention efforts. She continues to meet regularly with state and local leaders to hear about the need for investments in infrastructure projects – from highway resurfacing to flood prevention.