Manchin Urges Senate to Pass His ‘Rebuild America Jobs Act’ to Fix Infrastructure and Create American Jobs
Bill invests $60 billion in roads, bridges and airports, as well as establishes a public-private infrastructure bank
Washington, D.C. — In a press conference at the U.S. Capitol, Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) urged his colleagues today to pass the “Rebuild America Jobs Act,” a bill that would invest $60 billion in infrastructure across this country and create American jobs rebuilding West Virginia and this great nation.
Senator Manchin first unveiled his “Rebuild America Jobs Act” at a press conference in Charleston last week, during his “Commonsense Ideas for a Stronger America” week. Today, he joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to push for swift passage of the bill, which is scheduled for a vote on Thursday.
“Investing in rebuilding America is a true job-creator, and it just makes common sense,” Senator Manchin said. “I believe in infrastructure. Our economy can’t grow if people can’t go. This is not a Democratic idea or a Republican idea – Presidents Roosevelt and Eisenhower both made major investments in our infrastructure. Roads and bridges are in terrible condition in every state across this great nation. Every member of the House and every member of the Senate has a road or a bridge that could be fixed.
“And at the same time, we have a major jobs crisis – especially in construction. Of all the people in my state applying for unemployment, construction workers are the biggest group – at 20 percent,” Senator Manchin added. “If you invest in infrastructure, I can tell you one thing: you get an American working, and American spending money and an American fixing America.”
Senator Manchin also said he supports paying for the bill with a 0.7 percent surtax on incomes greater than $1 million, but is open to other ways to fund infrastructure investments that will to gain additional bipartisan support.
“Make no mistake, infrastructure is such a high priority that I’m also open and willing to listen to other ways to pay for it that would get bipartisan support," Senator Manchin said. "This bill costs $6 billion dollars a year. I can’t speak for everyone on this stage, but I know there are bipartisan ways to pay for it, whether it’s using unobligated funds, reducing agriculture subsidies like ethanol or ending spending on infrastructure in our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Video footage of the Senator’s press conference is available here:
HD Version: http://gp1d.senate.gov/sdmc/Manchin/110211_MANCHIN_1_FTP.M2TSD Version: http://gp1d.senate.gov/sdmc/Manchin/110211_MANCHIN_1_FTP.MPG
Audio is available here:
http://gp1d.senate.gov/sdmc/Manchin/110211_MANCHIN_1_RADIO.mp3
The Senator’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are included below:
“Earlier this week, I attended the ribbon-cutting for the Bluestone Dam in Hinton, West Virginia. When they started work on that dam, the engineers told me that it we didn’t fix it, the first floor of the Capitol would be underwater.
“It’s no secret that I don’t agree with everything the President says or does.
“But I do believe in infrastructure. Our economy can’t grow if people can’t go. That’s not a Democratic idea or a Republican idea – Roosevelt and Eisenhower both made major investments in our infrastructure.
“Roads and bridges are in terrible condition in every state across this great nation. Every member of the House and every member of the Senate has a road or a bridge that could be fixed.
“Drivers in West Virginia are paying an extra $280 year because of bad roads.
“And at the same time, we have a major jobs crisis – especially in construction. Of all the people in my state applying for unemployment, construction workers are the biggest group – at 20 percent.
“I can tell you that infrastructure has bipartisan support.
“I know that the way we’re paying for this is something I can support, but I also know my colleagues across the aisle have some trouble with it.
“But make no mistake, infrastructure is such a high priority that I’m also open and willing to listen to other ways to pay for it that would get bipartisan support.
“This bill costs $6 billion dollars a year. I can’t speak for everyone on this stage, but I know there are bipartisan ways to pay for it, whether it’s using unobligated funds, reducing agriculture subsidies like ethanol or ending spending on infrastructure in our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I can guarantee you that if you build a road in West Virginia, we won’t blow it up.
“If you invest in infrastructure, I can tell you one thing: you get an American working in America, an American spending money in America and an American fixing America.
“But I’m truly open to ways to pay for infrastructure because it is that important – it creates jobs and invests in our future.
“And we should all be focused on the next generation, not the next election.”
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