The Natural Resources Council of Maine has joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), and more than 140 national and local organizations today launched the “Build by the Fourth of July” campaign, urging newly elected and reelected members of Congress to enact a fiscally and environmentally responsible infrastructure package by the Fourth of July 2021.
This coalition brings together a diverse group of organizations including the North America’s Building Trades Unions, the National Wildlife Federation, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, as well as other leading business, policy and labor organizations as we expand upon work from a broad coalition of transportation and infrastructure groups, with an emphasis on building new partnerships to address our nation’s infrastructure needs.
“Our long-term economic recovery requires building a governing coalition committed to bipartisan solutions, and tackling a long overdue infrastructure package is an immediate way the new Congress and new administration can demonstrate their shared commitment to the betterment of the country,” said U.S. Chamber CEO Tom Donohue. “Rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure is not only one of the fastest and most direct ways to create new jobs and spur economic growth now, but also it will sustain our modern economy for the long-term. The coalition members may not agree on every issue or detail, but we understand the importance of working together for the greater good of the American people. We strongly urge policymakers to do the same and enact a fiscally and environmentally responsible infrastructure package as one of their first priorities.”
“National infrastructure investment is the best idea that never happens. Congress must seize this opportunity to jump start our economy, repair aging systems, and advance the modern technologies needed to confront climate change.” – Jason Grumet, President of the Bipartisan Policy Center.
“For far too long, Congress and Administrations have talked a big game on infrastructure but put it on the backburner when it was time to act. A robust and comprehensive infrastructure package must be top priority for this new Administration and Congress. Infrastructure investment provides a real opportunity to lay a strong foundation for long-term economic growth as we recover from the COVID-19 economy, ensuring good jobs with family sustaining wages for many Americans who have been struggling to make ends meet during these past challenging months. Congress must send a big, bold, broad, and bipartisan infrastructure package to the president by July 2021.” – Sean McGarvey, President of the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU).
“The scale of the crises facing our nation—the pandemic, mass unemployment, racial injustice, and climate change—require solutions of the same magnitude. The new Congress and administration should seize the opportunity to create millions of well-paying jobs by revitalizing our country’s crumbling infrastructure, restoring our natural resources, rebuilding our manufacturing base, deploying cleaner sources of energy, and bolstering community resilience, particularly in frontline communities. We urge Congress to commit to passing comprehensive infrastructure legislation as an absolute top priority for 2021.” – Collin O’Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.
“As a nation we must be able to build big things promptly to accelerate the economic recovery and build the resilient low-carbon economy of the future. We need a durable commitment and clear strategy.” – Build by the Fourth coalition
As part of the campaign, the coalition is calling for enactment of comprehensive legislation before July 4, 2021 that will:
- Repair and update our crumbling infrastructure
- Stimulate our economy and create middle-class sustaining jobs
- Address climate change
- Promote fiscally and environmentally responsible policies
- Improve federal project approvals
- Address the digital divide
To learn more and see how you can get involved, please visit the Build by the Fourth of July Campaign website.
