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The 31 national associations and construction trade unions of the Transportation Construction
Coalition (TCC) applaud your bipartisan efforts in crafting the Reinventing Economic Partnerships
And Infrastructure Redevelopment Act (REPAIR) Act. We support your proposal as a means to
supplement the core federal transportation investment programs by utilizing an array of financing
tools to encourage private sector investment in needed transportation infrastructure improvements.
As Congress and the Administration move forward on the infrastructure package promised by
President Trump, the TCC believes a permanent solution to the Highway Trust Fund revenue
shortfall should finally be addressed and included in such a legislative package. Additionally, all
options, including alternative project delivery and finance methods like the REPAIR Act, to address
the nation's infrastructure deficit need to be considered as well. The REPAIR Act represents an
innovative approach that would provide the ability to support nationally and regionally significant
infrastructure projects that require innovative financing outside the existing core federal programs.
If we are to improve our nation’s infrastructure, graded a D+ in ASCE’s 2017 Infrastructure Report
Card, we can no longer afford to defer needed investment in modernization and maintenance. Under
Sen. Warner’s leadership, the REPAIR Act would make a significant step toward this increased,
sustained investment, establishing a new, innovative funding authority designed to attract billions of
dollars in private sector investment in our nation’s water, transportation, and energy sectors. Sen.
Blunt’s co-sponsorship demonstrates once again that infrastructure is a bipartisan issue that impacts
the lives of all Americans. Through the REPAIR Act, our nation’s infrastructure will receive much-
needed additional funding to help narrow the $2 trillion infrastructure investment gap that currently
costs every American family $3,400 a year out of their discretionary income.
- Sean McGarvey, President, North America's Building Trades Unions (national and
international unions that collectively represent approximately 3 million skilled craft men
and women in the United States and Canada)
Senators Roy Blunt of Missouri and Mark Warner of Virginia, should be commended for their
ongoing effort to strengthen our nation’s investment in critical infrastructure. Their legislation, The
Reinventing Economic Partnerships And Infrastructure Redevelopment Act (REPAIR) Act
establishes a set of creative tools and incentives to draw private capital off the sidelines and promote
effective public private partnerships. There is at least a $1.4 trillion shortfall in funding needed to
adequately support infrastructure needs between now and 2025. The REPAIR Act is key to
unlocking private investment necessary to support long-term economic growth and a more
competitive nation.
I applaud Senators Warner and Blunt for re-introducing the REPAIR Act — an ambitious plan to
improve America’s highways, bridges, ports, transit and aviation system. This bi-partisan legislation
recognizes the United States’ urgent need to improve our infrastructure, so that we may once again
be a global competitor in today’s interconnected marketplace. The REPAIR Act employs a creative
financing mechanism which leverages private investments with those from the federal, state and
local sources. Fixing our state, local, and national infrastructure is a large task, and one that calls for
a large-scale plan that leverages all financing options, from the public to the private sector. The
REPAIR Act is a first-rate example of the type of legislation that could help tackle this issue.
Bills designed to increase investments in our country’s infrastructure, such as the REPAIR Act, are
vital to continued American strength. We must take steps now to invest in our country’s
infrastructure, sustaining economic growth and creating American jobs. ... Together with their
private-sector partners, ports will invest over $155 billion annually in marine terminal infrastructure
between 2016 and 2020. For America to remain globally competitive, however, we need the federal
government not only to invest directly to infrastructure projects but also to create incentives for
private and local investments as well. Investments now will pay dividends in the long run by
reversing the widening gap in freight movement infrastructure spending between our country and
spending levels of our competitors. ... America can and must do better. It is for this reason that
legislation such as the REPAIR Act is so important.
- Elaine Nessle, Executive Director, Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors
We must fix and improve our existing infrastructure first to ensure economic development for years
to come and provide access to jobs and opportunity. By prioritizing maintenance and providing
local communities with every available resource to support necessary investments, we can help our
cities, towns, and suburbs stay competitive. The Infrastructure Financing Authority created by the
REPAIR Act would provide another valuable tool to support thoughtful policy and critical
investments communities need to make repairs and to build a modern network.