AGC Asks House to Include Infrastructure Spending in Stimulus Package

[caption id="attachment_134" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Brian Burgett testifies on economic stimulus legislation."] [/caption] Brian Burgett, immediate past Chairman of AGC's Highway and Transportation Division testified on Wednesday before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to urge Congress to enact an economic recovery package which would include infrastructure investment to create jobs. Mr. Burgett described for the Committee market conditions facing his company and the non-residential construction market in general, including rising unemployment, credit availability issues, and volatile construction materials prices. The Committee asked Mr. Burgett to focus his remarks on the immediate needs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the stimulus benefit that would come from providing additional funding. AGC’s testimony also pointed out the short term and long term economic benefits that would be derived from additional funding for highway, transportation, water and wastewater projects. The Committee held the hearing at the request of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) who, along with the Democratic Congressional Leaders, is considering whether to put before Congress an additional economic recovery package that would include a substantial infrastructure investment component. It is possible that Congress could consider such a package as early as the week of November 17 when Congress may reconvene for a “Lame Duck” session. In September, the House passed H.R. 7110, a bill that would have provided $30 billion in supplemental appropriations for many federal construction programs; however, the Senate was unable to pass a similar measure. Reports suggest that Congress may consider a larger dollar figure in the next bill. AGC continues to press Congress to enact an economic recovery package with infrastructure investment as soon as possible to prevent further job losses in the industry and create additional job opportunities for contractors and their workers.