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Business/Labor Kick Off Infrastructure Week

May 13, 2014

Infrastructure Week raises awareness about the sad shape of America’s infrastructure.

Business and labor may not agree on everything, but when it comes to investing in America’s aged industrial infrastructure, both sides are sounding the alarm.

A group of more than 10 organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, kicked off Infrastructure Week May 12.

Infrastructure Week is a series of events and activities around country aimed at educating lawmakers and the public about the deteriorating condition of America’s roads, bridges, schools and energy distribution networks – and the need for Congress to take action, investing federal funds in bringing them up to date.

“Infrastructure has been one of the key foundations of America’s success,” said Nancy McLernon, president of the Organization for International Investment, one of the participating groups.

“We are in a global race for job creation and if America is to remain competitive, we must address the infrastructure needs we’ve ignored for years.”

As a report from the Center for Effective Government stated earlier this year:

Much of America’s infrastructure was built in the decades directly after World War II. The American Society of Civil Engineers’ most recent report card gives us a D+ on infrastructure. It estimates that the country needs to invest $1 trillion more than we now spend on repair, maintenance, and construction of a safe, sustainable national infrastructure.

Click here to see a calendar of events.

You can also participate on social media. Follow actions on Twitter at @RebuildRenew and use hashtag #RebuildRenew.

“Renewing our infrastructure can put tens of thousands of Americans back to work, while kick-starting broad-based economic growth,” said IBEW President Edwin D. Hill. “But time is running out. Too many in Congress have been ignoring these challenges for too long. The time for action is now.”