APWA applauds President's support for infrastructure investment

WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 26, 2011 -- The American Public Works Association (APWA) applauds President Obama's support in his State of the Union address for increased federal investment in public infrastructure.

"Increased investment to repair and rebuild our aging roads, bridges, public transportation and water infrastructure will create jobs, reinvigorate our economy and strengthen America's global economic competitiveness," said APWA President George Crombie. "All segments of the economy, whether businesses, services or manufacturing, rely on efficient, well-maintained infrastructure to move commerce, create jobs and strengthen our economic competitiveness. APWA applauds the President's commitment to rebuilding our infrastructure as an investment in the future of our nation and our recovering economy," he said.

"A major step toward achieving the economic goals the President laid out in his State of the Union address would be immediate passage of a long-term surface transportation authorization," Crombie said. "The current law that provides federal funding to improve and repair our roads, bridges and public transportation systems, known as SAFETEA-LU, expired more than 15 months ago and is operating under a temporary extension. Passage of a long-term transportation bill that increases investment will get us underway toward modernizing a 20th Century transportation system so we can compete in a 21st Century global economy. In addition, the needs of our nation's water infrastructure total hundreds of billions of dollars. A renewed commitment to reinvesting in our aging and deteriorating water infrastructure will create jobs and protect public health and the environment."

Working in the public interest, the 29,000 members of APWA plan, design, build, operate and maintain the transportation, water supply, sewage and refuse disposal systems, public buildings, and other structures and facilities essential to our nation's economy and way of life.

For more information about APWA, visit the website at www.apwa.net. For media queries, contact Laura Bynum, APWA Media Relations/Communications Manager at [email protected].

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