The Associated General Contractors of America has urged House Democrats to develop an economic
recovery plan that includes provisions which will boost construction activity during an
Economic Forum with leading economists.
"A significant boost to construction in the form of
increased infrastructure investment will create jobs and increase the quality of
life for millions of Americans who rely daily on our nation's infrastructure,
from roads and bridges, to water systems and schools," said AGC's Chief
Executive Officer Stephen E. Sandherr. "We congratulate the House on passage of
a stimulus appropriations bill prior to adjournment on October 3, and we urge
the Senators, who rejected a stimulus bill on September 26, to
reconsider."
In late September, the House passed an economic
stimulus bill (264-158) that included
approximately $34 billion for infrastructure investment, including $12.8 billion
for the federal-aid highway program; $3.6 billion for transit; $600 million for
airport capital improvement projects; $7.5 billion for water infrastructure; $5
billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; $3 billion for public school
reconstruction; $500 million for Amtrak; and $1 billion for public housing
construction. A similar bill in the Senate failed on a procedural vote
(52-42).
It is estimated that $100 billion of new
infrastructure projects have been delayed due to the reduced credit
market. Coupled with construction materials cost inflation, fewer contracts are
going out to bid, resulting in 52,000 lost construction jobs and a further
deteriorating national infrastructure. Over the past year, AGC has met with
congressional leaders, sent strong messages to both the House and Senate, and
signed on to letters from transportation related coalitions in support of
infrastructure investment. Speaker Pelosi has indicated that the Economic Forum
will help Congress develop a plan that will create jobs by building roads,
bridges and highways.
"Construction has always been an engine of economic
stimulus and can play that role once again," said Sandherr. "Increases in
infrastructure investment can be quickly put into play and will have a direct,
immediate and dramatic impact on the economy."