Trump Pushes for US$1.5 Trillion Infrastructure Plan
02/01/2018 - Delivering his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, U. S. President Donald Trump called for a US$1.5 trillion infrastructure plan to rebuild America’s crumbling roads and bridges.
"I am asking both parties to come together to give us the safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve," Trump said during the speech.
"Tonight I am calling on the Congress to produce a bill that generates at least $1.5 trillion for the new infrastructure investment we need. Every federal dollar should be leveraged by partnering with state and local governments and, where appropriate, tapping into private sector investment -- to permanently fix the infrastructure deficit," Trump said.
However, as Roll Call reports, details, including the amount the federal government would contribute or how the initiative would be funded, are scarce.
Still, Steel Manufacturers Association President Philip K. Bell called said the investment would be meaningful. But he said that along with the investment, standing “Buy America” provisions should be upheld.
"It is important that taxpayer funded projects utilize steel that is melted and poured in the United States to the greatest extent possible," he said.
"SMA members manufacture high-quality steel products that are critical to the construction and renewal of the nation’s infrastructure, and we urge Congress to work with President Trump to pass a major funding bill to rebuild and modernize our aging infrastructure," he added.
"Tonight I am calling on the Congress to produce a bill that generates at least $1.5 trillion for the new infrastructure investment we need. Every federal dollar should be leveraged by partnering with state and local governments and, where appropriate, tapping into private sector investment -- to permanently fix the infrastructure deficit," Trump said.
However, as Roll Call reports, details, including the amount the federal government would contribute or how the initiative would be funded, are scarce.
Still, Steel Manufacturers Association President Philip K. Bell called said the investment would be meaningful. But he said that along with the investment, standing “Buy America” provisions should be upheld.
"It is important that taxpayer funded projects utilize steel that is melted and poured in the United States to the greatest extent possible," he said.
"SMA members manufacture high-quality steel products that are critical to the construction and renewal of the nation’s infrastructure, and we urge Congress to work with President Trump to pass a major funding bill to rebuild and modernize our aging infrastructure," he added.
