DeLauro Applauds President's Plan for renewing and Expanding Americas Infrastructure

Washington, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement today in response to the President's expected announcement of a comprehensive plan to rebuild and expand our nation's transportation infrastructure.

The President's plan calls for an up-front investment in transportation infrastructure and a long-term vision for rebuilding America, including through the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank. Such a Bank is proposed in Congresswoman DeLauro's legislation, the National Infrastructure Bank Development Act (H.R. 2521), a bill the Congresswoman first introduced in 1994 that would establish an independent entity that could leverage private dollars to make investments in critical transportation, environmental, energy and telecommunications projects critical to American job growth.

"I welcome the President's announcement today calling for critical investments in our transportation infrastructure, including through the establishment of a National Infrastructure Bank. This is the kind of initiative we need to support the economy and produce long-term job growth. The National Infrastructure Bank is a concept which has garnered broad support from governors, mayors, the business and labor communities, as well as others. For such a Bank to succeed, it should function as an independent entity and leverage private dollars to make objective investments in transportation, environmental, energy and telecommunications projects of regional and national significance.

"The National Infrastructure Bank proposed in my legislation would fund projects that provide clear economic, environmental, and social benefits to communities and families around the country, making the best use of dollars spent. President Obama clearly understands the enormous impact infrastructure investment can make— and he had it right in his campaign and in his first budget, which included the establishment of a well-capitalized independent Bank. Now is the time to reinvest in our country and especially our crumbling infrastructure, and I look forward to working with the administration and my colleagues in Congress to make this proposal a reality."