Washington, DC—Senators Bob Casey and Barbara Boxer joined Leo Gerard of the United Steelworkers Union, Edward Wytkind of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department and Dennis Slater of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers at a press conference this morning to discuss the importance of infrastructure investments as a method of putting Americans back to work. Last year, infrastructure companies, trade associations and labor unions banded together to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This year, the same coalition supports efforts to create jobs through infrastructure projects. Senate Democrats are currently working to develop and pass new initiatives that will spur job creation.
Senator Casey said: “With 560,000 Pennsylvanians and 15 million Americans out of work, job creation is our number one priority. Investments we have made in infrastructure have helped create jobs and build local communities. We must continue to respond to the struggles of the American people and implement strategies to put people back to work.”
“This economic recovery is my main focus, and I look forward to working with Senators of both parties to move swiftly on job creation legislation,” said Senator Boxer.
“Infrastructure spending is a proven job creator, but if we don't also enact policies to encourage and preserve domestic manufacturing we will miss an opportunity for sustained job growth,” said Leo Gerard.
Edward Wytkind said: “We’re not out of the woods yet. Construction unemployment is 23% and in some states it’s near 40%. Transit agencies, while facing growing demand on their services, are cutting service and slashing jobs all around the country. With thousands of transit workers bracing for job cuts, these aren’t just statistics on a chart. These are people’s lives. These are families. Working families need jobs. And investing in our transportation systems and infrastructure is a proven way of creating them.”
“Inadequate investment in infrastructure is compromising our nation’s safety, environment, and international competitiveness,” said Dennis Slater. “Two out of every 25 jobs lost in the U.S. economy in this Great Recession can be traced to a downturn in construction equipment spending. The single best way to bring back hundreds of thousands of good-paying, sustainable manufacturing jobs in the U.S. is to pass major long-term investments in our critical national infrastructure.”
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