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Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett last week unveiled to the Virgin Islands community a five-year, $760 billion federal investment plan that promises 10 million jobs addressing the country’s most urgent infrastructure needs, from maintenance to streets, to cleaner air and increasing resiliency.
The investment framework would bolster the federal role in order to help communities around the country undertake transformative projects that are smarter, safer and made to last.
“Among other things, the framework outlines major investments, including those in surface transportation, airports, ports and harbors, wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, brownfields and broadband – all areas important to the Virgin Islands," Ms. Plaskett said.
She said it is infrastructure investment that is smarter, safer and made to last – with a framework that:
- Brings existing infrastructure into a state of good repair and enables the completion of critical projects through long-term, sustainable funding.
- Sets a path toward zero carbon pollution from the transportation sector, creating jobs, protecting our natural resources, promoting environmental justice and increasing resiliency to climate change.
- Ensures a transportation system that is green, affordable, reliable, efficient and provides access to jobs.
- Provides safe, clean and affordable water and wastewater services.
- Prioritizes the safety of the traveling public.
- Helps combat climate change by creating good-paying jobs in clean energy, investing in energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas pollution.
- Expands broadband internet access, adoption for unserved and underserved rural, suburban and urban communities.
- Modernizes 9-1-1 public safety networks.
- Creates family-wage jobs with Davis-Bacon and other strong worker protections.
- Supports U.S. industries, including steel and manufacturing, through strong Buy America protections
“When we invest in infrastructure, it results in a significant economic multiplier – with each dollar spent, our nation becomes more competitive and prosperous. Democrats’ new infrastructure framework creates jobs, bolsters American industry, and builds the smart, safe connections between communities that our country needs to advance," she said.
