Mayors to Congress: Help Fund Major Infrastructure Projects
Big-ticket infrastructure projects around the country need a boost from the federal government, more than 30 mayors meeting in Washington, D.C., last week told congressional leaders and Trump administration officials.
Senior member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors explained to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), as well as Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao that their cities are scrambling to finance repairs to roadways, pipelines and bridges.
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“Nobody knows what the specific needs in a city are better than the city government and the mayor,” said Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett (R), president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, in a statement after the group’s meetings.
“Our priorities, like funding for first responders and law enforcement, health care and reliable roads and bridges, are things our residents expect us to provide,” added Mitch Landrieu (D), mayor of New Orleans and vice president of the group.
Cornett, Landrieu, and other mayors have indicated they look forward to reviewing the massive infrastructure funding measure the Trump administration is expected to unveil this spring.
Addressing Congress on Feb. 28, President Trump urged House and Senate lawmakers to approve a $1 trillion infrastructure investment plan which he said would combine public and private dollars.
A Senate transportation funding panel is scheduled to meet March 8 to examine ideal funding mechanisms to back a large infrastructure funding bill.
