Proposed Legislation
Proposed on February 28, 2017
Summary
Trump has proposed that he will roll out a trillion-dollar public-private infrastructure project to fix the country’s aging highways. During his address to a joint session of Congress, he said: “Crumbling infrastructure will be replaced with new roads, bridges, tunnels, airports and railways gleaming across our beautiful land. The time has come for a new program of national rebuilding” He has compared his plan to President Eisenhower’s building of the interstate highways calling it the “last truly great infrastructure program.” LEARN MORE
Analysis
According to Conor Sen, a Bloomberg View columnist, Trump’s plan would require an increase of 570,000 construction workers (not including project/environmental specialist and truck drivers). The economy has not added these many construction jobs since 1946. In addition, Bloomberg reported that nearly 1.1 million workers may be undocumented so stepping up deportations may reduce an already limited pool of workers. Finally, a drastic decrease in workers going to the construction field will result in Trump not having the supply of laborers necessary for its success. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- US Senate – Contact your local representatives to take a stance against this proposed legislation.
- US House of Representatives – Contact your local representatives to take a stance against this proposed legislation.
- Laborers’ International Union of North America – The Build America union – half a million strong fighting for better wages and benefits, safer job sites and greater opportunity for construction workers.
This brief was compiled by Vaibhav Kumar. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact vaibhav@usresistnews.org.
