Mike Quigley: “A strong, safe, reliable, and efficient infrastructure system is vital for robust and sustained economic growth.…”

“A strong, safe, reliable, and efficient infrastructure system is vital for robust and sustained economic growth. Comprehensive infrastructure reform is all-inclusive and requires an ongoing investment by the Federal Government in not just our roads and bridges but in all of the vital systems that support our way of life. Currently, the United States needs around $3.6 trillion in infrastructure investment by 2020, just to keep our country in a state of good repair. By contrast, China, perhaps our greatest international rival, spends nearly four times of its GDP on infrastructure than we do and announced nearly a trillion dollars more infrastructure spending just last year. Put simply, our national infrastructure system is an embarrassment, earning a D-plus grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers. It is a threat to our economy, to American jobs, to our national security, and to our environment. We need a public transportation system that gets people where they need to be, keeps our roads clear, and makes our cities better places to live. We need a freight system that moves products and raw materials quickly, safely, and efficiently. We need airways that reliably move people and cargo around the country and the world in a timely manner. We need river locks and ports that allow American farmers to ship their products to market, no matter where that is. We need water pipes and sewers that transport safe, clean water to every American.…”