01.24.17

Cantwell Announces Blueprint to Rebuild Infrastructure While Creating 15 Million American Jobs

Cantwell Joins Senate Democrats in Unveiling a Blueprint to Invest $1 Trillion on Urban and Rural Infrastructure Priorities

Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell joined Senate Democrats in unveiling A Blueprint to Rebuild America's Infrastructure and Create 15 Million Jobs, which includes a historic $1 trillion investment that would create more than 15 million jobs over the next 10 years.

The comprehensive blueprint by Cantwell and her colleagues would provide billions for funding essential road and bridge improvement projects, expanding broadband in rural communities, repairing critical rail systems in major cities, modernizing VA hospitals, rebuilding public schools, expanding port and waterway infrastructure, and rehabilitating water and sewer structures.

Senator Cantwell, as the Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, focused on the critical investments in our national energy infrastructure, including upgrading our power grid, integrating smart cities technology, reforming existing tax incentives for renewable energy, and protecting against cyber-attacks. These investments will support new energy opportunities that will increase efficiency, protect the environment, and bring down consumer costs.

“I’m here to talk about energy infrastructure investments, which…will help save consumers money, grow our economy and create jobs. We are talking about things like transmission lines, grid modernization, grid storage, micro-grid investments and the all-important cybersecurity investments,” said Cantwell during a press conference releasing the blueprint. “We know this kind of infrastructure investment … not only produces great jobs, but also saves money and helps our businesses and homeowners be competitive.

The blueprint will follow Buy America provisions to rebuild America with American products and ensure strong protections for working men and women, such as Davis-Bacon and Prevailing Wage requirements. The Democrats’ proposal also strengthens participation from minority- and women-owned businesses and adheres to important environmental protections.

Elements of the Blueprint to Rebuild America's Infrastructure and Create 15 Million Jobs include investments in:

  • Vital Infrastructure Projects (VIP): $200 billion investment, create an estimated 2.6 million new jobs
  • Energy infrastructure: $100 billion investment, create an estimated 1.3 million new jobs
  • Schools: $75 billion investment, create an estimated 975,000 new jobs
  • Roads and bridges: $200 billion investment, create more than 2.7 million new jobs
  • Broadband: $20 billion investment, create an estimated 260,000 new jobs
  • Rail and bus: $170 billion investment, create more than 2.3 million new jobs
  • Ports, airports, waterways: $70 billion investment, create an estimated 910,000 new jobs
  • Water and sewer: $110 billion investment, create an estimated 2.5 million new jobs
  • Public lands & Indian country: $20 billion, create an estimated 260,000 new jobs
  • Energy infrastructure: $100 billion investment, create an estimated 1.3 million new jobs

Full Blueprint to Rebuild America’s Infrastructure

Blueprint to Rebuild America’s Infrastructure One Pager

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