Halfway There - and That’s Not Bad

2008-10-02T11:09:11-04:00

Last week I wrote about the potential for Congress including infrastructure spending in a new economic stimulus package. The idea has been floating around since January when the first stimulus bill (the one that directed the IRS to send us all $600 checks) was in its early stages. ASCE and our coalition partners fought hard to include extra spending on things like roads and waterways, but in the end that provision was left out of the enacted version. It was a disappointing defeat, but we were happy that some of our nation’s leaders had finally realized that rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure doesn’t just fix a few potholes and leaky pipes, it puts people to work in good jobs that can’t be shipped overseas.

As stocks started falling and banks began to fail late this summer, focus in Washington again turned to economic recovery. Seeing the potential for a boost in spending, infrastructure supporters once again put forward an economic stimulus plan that would pump extra money into things like transportation, levee improvements, and school building. This time it worked. Late last week, the House of Representatives passed an economic stimulus bill (H.R. 7110) that would have put about $12.8 billion into highways and $3.6 billion for mass transit, among other things.

Unfortunately, when coupled with the big bank bailout, the stimulus fell apart in the Senate, and the bill was dead for the year. Ok, so we didn’t win, but I don’t think we lost either. The fact that infrastructure funding was even considered is a huge step forward and proves we are starting to change the policymakers’ thinking. The fact that infrastructure made it into the bill, got a vote, and it passed one house – even bigger. Let’s pat ourselves on the back!

Sometimes you have to celebrate what victories you can – because the game’s too tough to keep playing and always losing. Yes, we have a long way to go, but it’s important to realize that we’re making progress. So let’s take a well-deserved victory lap and then get back in there so the next time we go all the way!

Summer’s Over, It’s Time for Action

2008-09-04T10:01:47-04:00

September is here, students are returning to school, it’s still pretty hot and humid here in Washington, and we’re all coming out of our summer laziness. Let’s hope Congress feels the same way. After the Republican Convention is over this week, Congress will return to Washington for one last month of work before they head home to campaign.

There are lots of things on their agenda and it’s looking everyday like some things might not get done. All signs point to a big fight over energy and the economy as both sides try to shore up last minute support before the election.

While the politicians tackle these rightfully important issues, ASCE will also be working to remind them that there is still a lot of work to do on infrastructure issues. The Infrastructure Action Plan has seen a good bit of action – successes include the Water Resources Development Act and annual appropriations for surface transportation – but there are still many boxes to check on the score card.

Among the most pressing are the Highway Trust Fund Fix, the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act, and Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations for ASCE priority issues. The House has already passed the Trust Fund Fix and the Dam Rehab bill, but the Senate still needs to act to ensure that states get their authorized surface transportation dollars and the nation’s 3,330 deficient dams get the remediation funds they need. Due to partisan bickering and a veto threat from the White House, the appropriations process this year has all but stopped. If the Congress is going to pass a Continuing Resolution to fund the government through January when a new President takes office as they have indicated, they must ensure infrastructure programs get the funding they are guaranteed.

These are all short term solutions to a larger problem. The nation’s infrastructure is crumbling beneath our feet and we need compelling national leadership and a comprehensive plan to rebuild our infrastructure so that it meets current and future needs. In the meantime, we should all pitch in to make sure these vital actions are taken. To read more about these issues or contact your members of Congress, visit ASCE’s advocacy website.

Our Failing Infrastructure

Halfway There - and That’s Not Bad

Summer’s Over, It’s Time for Action