“Our attention has been on that baseline has not really been adequately funded, or appropriately dealt with,” according to U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty of Connecticut. “That needs to be addressed.”
WASHINGTON — Recommendations for upgrading the nation’s public works that a bipartisan group of House lawmakers released this week underscore the difficult budget math Congress will face coming up with the money for any eventual White House infrastructure plan.
The Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of 48 lawmakers, outlined their recommendations in a report issued Wednesday. Reps. John Katko, a New York Republican, and Elizabeth Esty, a Connecticut Democrat, led a caucus working group that authored the report.
In the backdrop, is a yet-to-be-released proposal from the Trump administration for major new investment in the nation’s roads, bridges, waterworks and other infrastructure.
Details that have surfaced so far suggest that the White House is aiming for $200 billion of direct federal investment, with the hope of attracting another $800 billion from state, local and private sources.
ROUTE FIFTY
BY BILL LUCIA
JANUARY 11, 2018