What a pleasure it is to be here with President Tom Donahue in support of good jobs for working people, competitive businesses and a rising middle class.
Tom, I’m glad you could join us at this event for card check to grow America’s unions!
I knew that would make you grin.
Frankly, though, while we disagree about some things, we both agree that infrastructure matters. Robust and sustainable investment in America’s infrastructure is one of the core functions of a successful civilization, and I use that word for a reason:
We need healthy and safe water systems, not just in Flint, Michigan, but all across America that meet the standard of a civilized nation.
We need a safe and effective energy and utility infrastructure, including natural gas and oil pipelines, that don’t leak or break down or otherwise put harmful chemicals in our air or water. And we must make sure investments in new technology create good jobs and shared prosperity.
This isn’t a bonus. This is the basics.
We need functioning transportation systems, bridges, highways, railways, ports and metro services in our major cities, including right here in D.C.
A new report from the American Society of Civil Engineers shows the danger of disinvestment. Failing to address our infrastructure needs costs families $3,400 a year in disposable income. Our infrastructure investment gap if left unchecked will, by 2025, deprive workers of 2.5 million jobs, cost our businesses $7 trillion dollars and take nearly $4 trillion out of our economy.
We know how we got here, and we know how to fix it.
Inaction is a curse. Investment is a blessing. We represent well-trained, highly-skilled workers across America who are ready to get to work.
As we invest the $4 trillion we need to fix America’s infrastructure, we will create millions of good-paying, family-sustaining jobs. This will lower unemployment, raise wages and give our economy the kick start it needs.
A stronger economy means more profits for American companies, investment to meet rising demand and a virtuous growth cycle, which can usher in a new era of broadly shared prosperity.
And that is also something we can all agree on.