PRINTER'S NO. 3018
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
636
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY NEILSON, HILL-EVANS, HARKINS, PASHINSKI,
SCHLOSSBERG, MERSKI, FREEMAN, McCLINTON, CALTAGIRONE,
DELLOSO, MALAGARI, YOUNGBLOOD, CIRESI, OTTEN, MARKOSEK,
MULLINS, SCHWEYER, DRISCOLL, DERMODY, READSHAW, SOLOMON,
ROEBUCK, DONATUCCI, WHEATLEY, KORTZ, ISAACSON, CEPHAS, DALEY,
SNYDER, ROZZI, O'MARA, EVERETT, SCHMITT, HENNESSEY,
HOHENSTEIN, FITZGERALD, MEHAFFIE, McNEILL AND LONGIETTI,
DECEMBER 16, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, DECEMBER 16, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to establish a national
infrastructure bank.
WHEREAS, Our nation and our State are in the midst of an
infrastructure crisis that is exacerbated by a substantial
shortfall in infrastructure spending; and
WHEREAS, The 2017 Infrastructure Report Card from the
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the United
States a cumulative grade of "D+" across 16 categories and
estimated that the nation needs a $4.59 trillion investment in
infrastructure by 2025 just to bring this grade up to a "B"; and
WHEREAS, ASCE found that continuing on this trajectory and
failing to invest in improvements by 2025 will have serious
economic consequences, including $3.9 trillion in losses to the
national gross domestic product and job losses of more than 2.5
million; and
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WHEREAS, The infrastructure crisis in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania mirrors that of the country at large; and
WHEREAS, ASCE's 2018 Infrastructure Report Card gave our
State a cumulative grade of "C-" across 18 categories, including
a "D+" for roads, a "D" for drinking water and a "D-" for
wastewater treatment; and
WHEREAS, ASCE noted that traffic congestion results in more
than $3.7 billion annually in lost time and wasted fuel, while
deficient roadway conditions cost the average Pennsylvania
motorist more than $500 in operating and maintenance outlays;
and
WHEREAS, ASCE further noted that our State's aging drinking
water infrastructure poses increased public health risks and
will require an additional $10.2 billion in funding over the
next decade; and
WHEREAS, It is past time that the Federal Government develop
a collaborative solution to these infrastructure problems
through the establishment of a national infrastructure bank; and
WHEREAS, A national bank is not a new idea, having been
successfully implemented first by President George Washington
and Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and later by
Presidents John Quincy Adams, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D.
Roosevelt; and
WHEREAS, Previous national infrastructure banks established
by Congress were instrumental in financing the roads, bridges,
canals, roadways, schools, hospitals and power systems that made
our country the envy of the world; and
WHEREAS, A national infrastructure bank that partners with
state and local governments can supply the needed financing to
bring infrastructure to a state of good repair; and
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WHEREAS, This investment would restart various industries in
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, creating millions of new high-
paying jobs; and
WHEREAS, The National Congress of Black Women, Democratic
Municipal Officials, National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade
Association, National Federation of Federal Employees and
numerous other organizations have endorsed the establishment of
a national infrastructure bank; and
WHEREAS, Various state and local governments have passed
resolutions supporting the establishment of a national
infrastructure bank; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to establish a national infrastructure bank; 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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