Four Pillars for An Infrastructure Deal

Floor Speech

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Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, House Democrats have an opportunity to create substantive, innovative, and cost-effective legislation that will bring jobs and economic growth to America through an infrastructure bill.

As co-chair of the New Democratic Coalition's Infrastructure Task Force, we are actively drafting policy priorities to be considered for a House infrastructure bill. It is important to have Americans of all sectors' voices as we do this, and last week the infrastructure listening sessions were hosted by Representatives Colin Allred and Marc Veasey in Dallas and Joe Cunningham in Charleston.

New Democrats are intensely focused on receiving and implementing forward-looking and practical ideas to help everyday Americans use infrastructure that supports job creation and advancement, multiple forms of transportation, policy proposals to mitigate climate change, and streamline bureaucracy.

It is my hope that the President and Republicans will join us as we focus on four pillars for an infrastructure deal: modernize America's infrastructure and seek new revenue, create an infrastructure bank to finance the project, create incentives for communities most in need to finance those projects through grant programs, and encourage innovation and reform through responsible regulatory streamlining and the utilization of public-private partnerships that work.

Building and renovating roads, bridges, ports, greener schools and hospitals, and broadbands all need the support of Congress to advance the flow of America's goods and services. It is what we need to do to keep our dominance in the economy.

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