Building America’s Future Praises Obama’s Commitment to Infrastructure

Rendell, Schwarzenegger and Bloomberg Urge Congress and Obama Administration to Act on Proposed Initiatives

WASHINGTON, DC— Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and former governors Ed Rendell and Arnold Schwarzenegger praised President Obama’s State of the Union for his broad-based plan to keep America competitive through strategic investments in infrastructure.   The three leaders represent Building America's Future (BAF), a bipartisan and national coalition of elected officials dedicated to bringing about a new era of U.S. investment in infrastructure that enhances our nation's prosperity and quality of life.

“The president’s infrastructure initiative is substantial, but more important, it will make a difference for generations to come,” former Governor Rendell said.  “He knows that infrastructure is about even more than roads, bridges and buildings; it’s about creating jobs, growing the economy and building the future.”

“President Obama understands that putting money into infrastructure is not an expense, it’s an investment,” said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  “And it’s an investment that will reap great benefits for years to come for this country. Infrastructure isn’t about the left versus the right or liberal versus conservative; it’s about falling behind or moving forward.  I urge Congress to work with the president to make infrastructure a bipartisan priority and to move our nation forward.”

“The President’s call for a renewed focus on infrastructure investment – including high speed rail – is critically important to keeping American competitive in the 21st century,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “  “We look forward to working with the White House – and Congressional leaders in both parties –  to base our infrastructure investments on economics, not politics.”

Tonight, in a speech focusing on innovation, education, and infrastructure, the President outlined the following proposals for infrastructure investment in his State of the Union address so that we attract new businesses to our shores and move people, goods, and information:

• Re-double efforts to repair roads, bridges and rails which will lead to increased job creation.
• Revolutionize infrastructure investment by attracting private capital and ensuring that we pay for all of our investments.
• Fund projects based on what’s best for the economy not politics.
• Give 80 percent of Americans access to high speed rail within the next 25 years.
• Connect 98 percent of Americans through major investment in broadband infrastructure.

About Building America’s Future

Founded in January 2008 by Governor Edward Rendell of Pennsylvania, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York, BAF boasts a politically and regionally diverse membership of state and local elected officials from across the nation.  BAF seeks to advance a new national vision for infrastructure investment that strengthens our cities and rural communities, and focuses on economic growth and global competitiveness, creation of economic opportunity for all Americans, and environmental sustainability.  In addition, BAF embraces a wide definition of infrastructure - from roads and bridges to water and sewer systems, energy systems, buses, trains, ports, airports, levees, dams, schools and housing. http://www.bafuture.org/

BAF was influential in supporting The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in 2009 that helped states and cities repair, maintain, and build infrastructure, including highways, transit systems, tunnels, bridges, water systems, high speed rail, broadband and more.  BAF believes this was an important first step and that more must be done to fund critical infrastructure needs around the country. 

This press release can be downloaded here.