Duckworth Asks for Details on Trump Administration’s Long-Awaited Infrastructure Plan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and the Democratic members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), are asking the Trump Administration to announce its long-awaited infrastructure investment plan. In a letter, the Senators requested a meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to discuss details of how the Trump administration would carry out the President's campaign promise to invest $1 trillion to repair our crumbling infrastructure and create good-paying jobs. At an EPW Committee hearing in May, Secretary Chao stated that the Administration would release its infrastructure principles at the end of May and unveil a legislative proposal in the third quarter of 2017. However, the Trump administration has yet to announce any infrastructure proposals that would fulfill the President's frequent campaign promise.
In the letter, Duckworth and the Democratic lawmakers wrote, "[President Trump's] message was one that resonated with the American voters, just as it appealed to us as members of Congress, eager to lay the foundation for investments that would create jobs, improve our economy, and enhance the quality of life in communities throughout the country. Senate Democrats have put forward our own 'Blueprint to Rebuild America's Infrastructure,' which would invest $1 trillion in our nation's infrastructure, creating over 15 million American jobs. We stand ready to work with our Republican colleagues on a significant infrastructure effort such as the one we have proposed.
"We request that you and any other appropriate Administration officials meet with us to share the Administration's long-awaited infrastructure plan. Following quickly thereafter, we would hope that you will be able to formally transmit the Administration's plan to Congress so that we may understand the Administration's priorities as we get to work on developing a comprehensive infrastructure investment package."
Joining Senators Duckworth and Carper (D-DE) were Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Kamala Harris (D-CA).
The text of the letter to Secretary Chao is available below and online here.
September 28, 2017
Dear Secretary Chao,
We are writing to request that you meet with us to share progress on and available details of the Administration's infrastructure plan.
As you know, providing investments for our nation's infrastructure is one of the most important roles of the Federal government. Both during his campaign and since assuming office, President Trump has repeatedly indicated the priority he places on infrastructure investment. He called for new investments of a trillion dollars to repair badly degraded infrastructure, from roads and bridges, to transit and ports, to water pipes and broadband. This message was one that resonated with the American voters, just as it appealed to us as members of Congress, eager to lay the foundation for investments that would create jobs, improve our economy, and enhance the quality of life in communities throughout the country.
In May of this year, we were honored to have you appear before the Environment and Public Works Committee to discuss your priorities and efforts as Secretary of Transportation to improve our nation's infrastructure. At that time, we were heartened to hear you pledge to work on infrastructure in a bipartisan, collaborative manner with members of Congress. You indicated that the Administration would be sending principles for infrastructure investment to Congress for our consideration in the third quarter of this year. Since then, you have reiterated your promise that the Administration's collaboration on infrastructure would begin in the Fall.
We request that you and any other appropriate Administration officials meet with us to share the Administration's long-awaited infrastructure plan. Following quickly thereafter, we would hope that you will be able to formally transmit the Administration's plan to Congress so that we may understand the Administration's priorities as we get to work on developing a comprehensive infrastructure investment package.
We look forward to hearing from you soon and to meeting with you and members of your team shortly thereafter. Thank you very much.
Sincerely yours,
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