On January 30, House Democrats released their “Moving Forward” framework, a five-year, $760 billion infrastructure plan to address our country’s critical infrastructure needs.
The $760 billion proposal includes $329 billion for roads and bridges, $55 billion for passenger rail, $30 billion for airports, $50.5 billion for wastewater infrastructure, $86 billion for rural broadband expansion, and $12 billion for a state of the art emergency call system. Addressing climate change is also a constant theme throughout the proposal, with provisions on expanding access to charging stations and other fueling options for electric and zero-emissions vehicles, promoting public transit options by investing into zero-emission buses and making roads safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.
However, addressing the deficiencies in our nation’s vital infrastructure will require more than just new investments in roads, bridges, airports and waterways. It will also require a commitment to the development of a skilled workforce that can design, build, upgrade and maintain that infrastructure. Workforce development is referenced in the Framework, but not in a robust way. It only narrowly mentions two vague workforce development proposals that seek to “promote apprenticeship programs in water utility jobs” and “invest in workforce development programs to give workers the skills needed to find family-wage transportation jobs and to ensure that the workforce of today can build the transportation systems of tomorrow.”
CTE is well positioned to provide the education and work-based learning that individuals will need for career success in current infrastructure fields and future ones that would be created through a large-scale infrastructure investment. The broad scope of modern CTE reflects the wide range of industry sectors and occupations that contribute to the development of vital infrastructure. Put simply, rebuilding our infrastructure and securing its sustainability for the future will require a strong focus on developing a robust workforce pipeline. We will be working closely with Congress as the elements of the Framework are fleshed out in hopes of ensuring a robust workforce development component.
There was also one glaring critical infrastructure need that was absent from the framework – school modernization and construction. ACTE believes that any comprehensive infrastructure proposal should include our nation’s public schools, whose average age is nearly 50 years old. The American Society of Civil Engineers rated school facility infrastructure as a D+, estimating that 53 percent of schools need improvement to reach good condition. The condition of school buildings provide a crucial foundation for classroom learning that affects students and the American economy, which is why their prioritization is critical.
The renewal of infrastructure-related action in Congress in 2020 began the day prior when the Ways and Means Committee hosted a hearing entitled, “Paving the Way for Funding and Financing Infrastructure Investments.” This topic will be a significant part of the debate and the future prospects of any proposal passing will hinge on how it will be paid for. ACTE will continue to monitor the progress of this, and other potential proposals, and will continue to put updates on our Policy Watch Blog. Please continue to check back for updates.
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