See Infrastructure Investments as the Key to Long-Term Economic Growth

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- America's Building Trades Unions today expressed their disappointment in the economic stimulus package approved by Congress on February 7. 'We think the Congress missed out on an opportunity to truly affect our nation's long-term economic health by including infrastructure spending as part of the stimulus package,' said Mark Ayers, President of the Building & Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

'What's striking,' said Ayers, 'is that on 'Super Tuesday,' tens of millions of Americans turned out to vote in primaries or caucuses in 24 states from coast to coast for the sole purpose of helping to decide the future direction of our nation. But lost among all the talk about Hillary vs. Obama was one critically important fact...that 1.6 million good paying American manufacturing jobs have been lost in the last seven years in the 24 states that participated in 'Super Tuesday.''

The Building Trades' advocacy for increased infrastructure spending to spur both short- and long-term economic health are premised on the fact that every $1 billion in infrastructure spending creates approximately 47,000 jobs and every $1 billion invested in transportation infrastructure generates $ 2 billion in economic activity.

According to Ayers, 'The most obvious strategy for dealing with a recession and rising unemployment is to invest in the building and repairing of our nation's infrastructure. Such spending puts money in the pockets of hard working people.'

An economic stimulus approach that is based-upon infrastructure investments would have sustained long-term economic benefits as well. Traffic congestion and overcrowded and/or crumbling schools are daily reminders that the state of our nation's infrastructure directly affects our economy, our national security and our quality of life.

America's Building Trades Unions intend to continue to work to keep this issue at the forefront of the current debate over short-term economic stimulus solutions, as well as injecting this issue into the presidential debate. We will work with Chairman Oberstar and other congressional leaders in re-visiting this issue during possible consideration of a second stimulus package. Success on this score is a win-win for all of America -- it will improve our quality of life, our standard of living and our competitiveness. That will require a federal government that is courageous enough and smart enough to be effective.

A new type of federal involvement would be a powerful initiative and would require a new focus. Rebuilding America is a historic task; together, we have the means to do it.

The Building & Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO is an alliance of 12 craft unions representing approximately three million members. Its unions are widely known as the best choice for highly skilled and highly productive construction labor. The Department and its affiliated member unions demonstrate a concerted commitment to world class skills development and training; coupled with a 21st century labor/management model that is founded upon the principles of performance, pride, cooperation and partnership.

Source: Building and Construction Trades Dept, AFL-CIO