Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)
WASHINGTON – Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning, NY 23) says one of his top priorities for 2018 is to focus on securing funding to address aging infrastructure across the country, including here in the New York State 23rd congressman district.
According to Reed, the House Problem Solvers Caucus – which he co-chairs – has released a series of bipartisan policy recommendations to build a 21st century infrastructure network for America.
Reed says the 48 member group of Washington Lawmakers launched an Infrastructure Working Group to find consensus on a bipartisan set of policies to serve as the bedrock for a plan that addresses the dire need to rebuild and responsibly invest in infrastructure across the United States.
“We’re going to be part of a loud voice here on the hill, in a bipartisan way, that can support an infrastructure bill that goes down the path of rebuilding our roads, our water, our sewers, and our broadband access – for example – in districts like ours and across the country that are in such need for that infrastructure investment to get us up to the point where we have a functioning infrastructure of 21st century caliber that allows our constituents and people across the country to prosper and grow,” Reed said during his weekly conference call.
Reed says the plan being put forward by the Problem Solvers Caucus would focus on identifying and prioritizing improvements to the nation’s highways, roads and bridges, transit and railways, ports and airports, water and sewer systems, energy systems and the power grid, and broadband and communications networks.
Passing an infrastructure bill that is estimated to run as high as $1 Trillion in the Republican-controlled Congress will likely require support from the Democratic party in the Senate where Republicans only have a slender majority.
Some Democrats have expressed a desire to see a bill passed, but mid-term congressional elections in November this year could make the politics of a bipartisan effort difficult.
Congress would need to find a way to fund an expensive infrastructure package and the cost could cause both Democrats and Republicans to oppose the legislation.
President Trump, who spoke frequently about improving infrastructure in the United States during his 2016 election campaign, has stated his desire to see an infrastructure package passed quickly.
Leave a Reply