PRINTER'S NO. 1019
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
145
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, COSTA, HUGHES, TARTAGLIONE, SCHWANK,
BREWSTER, CAPPELLETTI, DILLON AND KANE, JULY 17, 2023
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, JULY 17, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to establish the
National Infrastructure Bank.
WHEREAS, In 2021, the American Society of Civil Engineers
(ASCE) reported a grade of C- for the current state of
infrastructure in the United States, and ASCE estimated more
than $6 trillion is needed to restore the nation's
infrastructure to a state of good repair; and
WHEREAS, More than $2 trillion in infrastructure projects are
currently unfunded, the remainder is inadequately funded and new
21st century projects remain unfunded; and
WHEREAS, The 2022 ASCE report card grades Pennsylvania C- in
15 categories of basic infrastructure, including the following
assessments:
(1) over the next 10 years, Pennsylvania's public water
systems, which currently continue to contain substantial
amounts of lead service lines as well as per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are projected to have a
$10.2 billion funding gap, not including funding from recent
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Federal programs;
(2) Pennsylvania has the ninth largest bridge inventory,
including the second highest number of poor condition
bridges, in the nation, which will require a minimum of $18
billion annually to maintain;
(3) the Commonwealth has a funding gap of $8.4 billion
over the next 10 years that is needed to repair existing
wastewater systems and upgrade current systems to meet
regulatory requirements;
(4) $2 billion in storm water assets have reached the
end of their useful life and require $6.7 billion for storm
water projects over the next three to five years;
(5) transit funding shortfalls include $4.6 billion for
the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA)
capital needs and $175 million for capital improvements at
the Port Authority of Allegheny County, and other systems
require additional funding; and
(6) Pennsylvania has a shortage of at least 267,000
available and affordable homes for extremely low-income
renters;
and
WHEREAS, Recently, the "National Infrastructure Bank Act" was
introduced in the United States House of Representatives (H.R.
4052, 118th Congress 2023 - 2024) to establish the National
Infrastructure Bank (NIB); and
WHEREAS, The proposed $5 trillion bank would have
authorization to invest only in infrastructure projects, be
capitalized by existing Treasury debt and require no new Federal
spending or the imposition of new taxes; and
WHEREAS, The NIB will assist in financing all of the
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infrastructure of Pennsylvania, working in partnership with the
State and local governments, both rural and urban; and
WHEREAS, The NIB is modeled on previous banks that assisted
in building much of our infrastructure under Presidents George
Washington, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D.
Roosevelt; and
WHEREAS, The last Federal bank with the similar objective of
funding infrastructure in the United States helped bring the
country out of the Depression and our victory in World War II;
and
WHEREAS, The NIB will create 25 million new jobs, pay
prevailing wages and include "Buy America" provisions; and
WHEREAS, Through the NIB, disadvantaged business enterprises
will receive significant disbursements; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 4052 mandates large-scale minority hiring and
requires the dramatic expansion of small and medium-size
businesses, thereby increasing revenues into state and local
governments; and
WHEREAS, As its predecessors did, and according to experts,
the NIB will grow the Federal economy by 5% per year; and
WHEREAS, Twenty-six state legislatures have introduced or
passed resolutions of support, as have county and city councils;
and
WHEREAS, National endorsements include the:
(1) National Black Caucus of State Legislators;
(2) National Asian-Pacific American Caucus of State
Legislators;
(3) Council of State Governments-East Region;
(4) National Association of Development Organizations -
all 541 Regional Planning Commissions;
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(5) National Association of Counties; and
(6) United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters;
and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania endorsements include:
(1) The City of Pittsburgh;
(2) The City of Philadelphia;
(3) The City of Allentown;
(4) The City of Lancaster;
(5) Northampton County;
(6) Allegheny County; and
(7) The Northern Tier Central Labor Council;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
urge the Congress of the United States to establish the National
Infrastructure Bank; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
call upon the Congress of the United States to pass H.R. 4052,
to create the National Infrastructure Bank to finance urgently
needed infrastructure projects; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, the presiding officers of
each house of Congress and each member of Congress from
Pennsylvania.
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