US Congress punts on infrastructure again. National Infrastructure Bank Coalition mtg 22 Jul 2021.
Channel: Coalition for a National Infrastructure Bank
Date: 2021-07-25

Supporters and activists with the National Infrastructure Bank Coalition had a Zoom meeting on 22 July 2021.  

This video is a recording of that meeting.  

Speakers:
0:00 Title Page: Congress Punts on Infrastructure Again - Score a Touchdown with the National Infrastructure Bank.

0:09 Intro by moderator Robert Lynn--Organizer and Political Director. UA Local 50 (ret.) Toledo, OH

2:41 Alphecca Muttardy--Professional Economist; former Senior Economist, IMF, Fairfax, VA gives an overview of the differences between HR 3339 which creates a $5 Trillion National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) and other bills in Congress that use the name "infrastructure bank".  

16:07 Assemblyman Shannon Bilbray Axelrod, state rep in Nevada, expresses her excitement about the NIB.  The Nevada legislature passed a resolution through both Houses in support of the National Infrastructure Bank.

19:29 Dr. Stephen Hubbard-- PhD, Infrastructure Bank funding expert, Northridge, CA reviews why Public Private Partnerships are not a panacea, and are only appropriate in a small percentage of use cases.  

31:00 Rep. Joe Ciresi--Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Limerick, PA, welcomes the idea of a $5 Trillion National Infrastructure Bank.  Among other things, it will mean restoring the Reading Railroad, and mass transit more broadly.  

35:29 Mary Jane Shimsky, Majority Leader, Westchester County Board of Legislators, Dobbs Ferry, NY,  describes New York's state of infrastructure.  About 10% of all bridges in the state are structurally deficient; a larger percentage are functionally obsolete; over 7000 miles of road are in poor condition, and the list goes on.  "The need for a national infrastructure bank is vast."  She describes the actions she's taking to promote the idea.

41:53 Rep. Lamar Lemmons (former)--Chief of Staff, Michigan State Senator Betty Jean Alexander, Detroit, MI.  State senator Betty Jean Alexander has introduced a resolution in support of the $5 trillion National Infrastructure Bank.  He reports on the ongoing political process gathering support for the Bank.

46:45 Mary Alford, P.E.--Alachua County Commissioner, Gainesville, FL.  She found the National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) coalition in her research looking for ways to improve the roads in Florida.  She has gotten a resolution in support of the Bank at the county level, and brought it to the National Association of Counties (NACo).  It passed the transportation committee, and was passed by NACo without debate.  Everyone saw the need, and agreed.  

53:19 James "Lou" Spencer, Vice-President, Virginia State Building and Construction Trades Council.  The $5 trillion National Infrastructure Bank will cost the government almost nothing and create millions of jobs.  HR 3339 has been introduced to create the bank.  Future generations will thank us if we rise to the occasion.  

56:10 Julie Olsen--MBA, Chair Progressive Caucus Alaska Democratic Party, Anchorage, AK.  She emphasizes that every business in America will benefit from the National Infrastructure Bank, and gives examples in the Pacific Northwest.

58:54 Jack Hanna—Oregon State Democratic Committee, Portland, OR.  We have a unique opportunity to revive the National Infrastructure Bank, which has been done four times before in our nation's history.  He gives an overview of the growing support for the Bank.  

1:03:05 Dennis Montoya, JD---Immediate Past State Director, New Mexico LULAC, Rio Rancho, NM.  They passed a resolution in support of the National Infrastructure Bank (NIB), and describes the need for infrastructure in New Mexico.  It is a poor state, and needs water management systems, and jobs, and much more.  The NIB would bring long-delayed economic opportunities.