WASHINGTON – This week, United State Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) unveiled House Democrats’ new framework for a five-year, $760 billion investment that would create an estimated 10 million jobs addressing some of the country’s most urgent infrastructure needs, from the massive maintenance backlog, to designing safer streets, to putting the U.S. on a path toward zero carbon pollution from the transportation sector and increasing resiliency. This framework would bolster the Federal role in order to help communities around the country undertake transformative projects that are smarter, safer and made to last.
“This infrastructure plan is just what Connecticut needs to carry out transformational projects,” said Rep. Hayes. “This framework is the roadmap to putting people to work and building the infrastructure of the future. I look forward to working with my House colleagues to move forward on this legislation.”
Among other things, the framework outlines major investments, including those in surface transportation, rail and transit systems, airports, ports and harbors, wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, brownfields and broadband.
This infrastructure investment is smarter, safer and made to last – with a framework that:
- Brings existing infrastructure into a state of good repair and enables the completion of critical projects through long-term, sustainable funding;
- Sets a path toward zero carbon pollution from the transportation sector, creating jobs, protecting our natural resources, promoting environmental justice and increasing resiliency to climate change;
- Ensures a transportation system that is green, affordable, reliable, efficient and provides access to jobs;
- Provides safe, clean and affordable water and wastewater services;
- Prioritizes the safety of the traveling public;
- Helps combat climate change by creating good-paying jobs in clean energy, investing in energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas pollution;
- Expands broadband internet access, adoption for unserved and underserved rural, suburban and urban communities;
- Modernizes 9-1-1 public safety networks;
- Creates family-wage jobs with Davis-Bacon and other strong worker protections and;
- Supports U.S. industries, including steel and manufacturing, through strong “Buy America” protections.
The proposal is supported by organizations including:
- National League of Cities
- AFL-CIO, Transportation Trades Department
- US Chamber of Commerce
- American Public Transportation Association
- Associated General Contractors of America
- ITS America
- AAAE, ACI-NA, ACC
- Business Roundtable
- Airports Council International – North America
- Competitive Enterprise Institute
- Transportation for America
- AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
- Blue Future
- National Conference of State Legislatures
- Union of Concerned Scientists
- Teamsters
- Association for Commuter Transportation
- League of American Bicyclists
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Rep. Jahana Hayes has been a public school teacher in Connecticut for more than 15 years and was recognized in 2016 as the National Teacher of the Year. Currently serving her first term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Hayes sits on the Committees on Education & Labor and Agriculture and proudly represents Connecticut’s 5th District.