Senior Democrat Proposes Investing $4 Trillion in Infrastructure
Investments in the country’s infrastructure greater than $1 trillion would boost the economy and lead to job growth, a top House Democrat said July 31.
“We need to really have a robust infrastructure plan. I’m not talking $1 trillion. I’m talking $3- to $4 trillion; really rebuild America. Really invest in the future,” said Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
Crowley, chairman of the chamber’s Democratic Caucus, added that building large-scale infrastructure projects would help middle class families through long-term jobs in the construction sector.
This year, Democrats have called on Republican leaders and the Trump administration to increase federal spending for transportation and freight projects. The GOP leadership has not considered the Democrats’ proposal, and are awaiting legislative instructions from the White House.
The administration unveiled a mini-plan calling for $200 billion in federal funds to incentivize $800 billion from the private sector. Also, the mini-plan promoted the concept of enhancing state-centric authority over infrastructure spending. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao indicated the infrastructure plan would be presented to Congress this fall or by the end of the year.
On July 19, President Trump issued an executive order establishing an executive council tasked with helping the White House with an infrastructure funding proposal that identifies “methods to increase public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects, including appropriate statutory or regulatory changes.”
The non-governmental group Food & Water Watch sued the president after the executive order was signed, alleging the infrastructure council would benefit billionaire’s Richard LeFrak and Steven Roth. The two developers are assisting Trump on infrastructure matters.
