WHO WE ARE
To maximize the return on investment for American workers and underserved communities through federal stimulus legislation, Accelerator for America, WSP USA, The U.S. Conference of Mayors, Meridiam NA, Mastercard’s City Possible team, the ACEC Research Institute, and HNTB launched the New Partnership on Infrastructure to deliver specific and actionable recommendations to improve how infrastructure is funded and delivered to the public through an Infrastructure Playbook.
WHY INFRASTRUCTURE?
Each $1 billion of investment in infrastructure creates more than 22,000 jobs — typically well paid and typically union jobs — that provide long-lasting careers and support strong local economies. For the stimulus to be most effective, we must align local government needs with broader federal macroeconomic stability goals and overhaul how we fund infrastructure in our country by moving toward a system that incentivizes aligned local, state, and federal investment. By empowering local governments — which are most attuned to local needs and priorities — with more autonomy, infrastructure investments can be developed alongside national policy objectives.
America’s New Playbook for Infrastructure
This highly actionable Playbook, informed by local leaders across the country and formed by the series of policy themes below, aims to shape federal legislative action by detailing the structural change needed to emerge from this crisis more prosperous, more competitive, and with improved quality of life for generations of Americans to come. The Playbook goes beyond a call for significant investment in our nation’s infrastructure and urges an overhaul of how infrastructure is financed by the federal government.
Watch Rep. Karen Bass and Mayors Eric Garcetti, Nan Whaley, Kate Gallego, Quentin Hart, David Holt, and Andy Berke release "America's New Playbook for Infrastructure" and discuss how its recommendations are uniquely relevant for these times.
Policy THEMES
“Everybody wants to be included in rebuilding our communities. We need to make sure everyone has the opportunity to do so.”
“We have to keep investing now, both for the future, and because so much of our economy is counting on local government to make these investments.”
“In every decision I make, I think about what I am going to hand the next generation. And in tough times we don’t think about that, but we need to think about what we’re handing our children, especially when it comes to an aging, antiquated infrastructure.”
“If there is any moment that expands how much of a public good broadband is, it is right now.”
“We are deficient in transportation and mobility, which creates congestion issues, climate change issues, equity issues and quality of life issues. We’re the only largest city in the country with only one interstate running through it.”
“Very rarely is there a force at the federal level that would inspire us to take on something like MAPS 4, and there should be.”
