WHEREAS, the United States faces a widely acknowledged 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

WHEREAS, the infrastructure crisis in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania mirrors that of the country at large; and

WHEREAS, ASCE 2018 Infrastructure Report Card gave our Commonwealth 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 caused the average Pennsylvania motorist more than $500 in operating and maintenance outlays; and

WHEREAS, a new National Infrastructure Bank could have a spending authority of $4 trillion, and be capitalized with no new federal appropriations. This bank would be modeled on the previous successful National Bank models. It would monetize existing debt rather than create new debt thus causing no deficit increase; and

WHEREAS, the First and Second Bank of the United States, created on this model were located in Philadelphia and built much of the infrastructure of the first half of the 19th century; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln's national banking acts financed the railroad industry in Pennsylvania and made Pennsylvania a great industrial state; and

WHEREAS, Franklin Roosevelt's National Bank called the Reconstruction Finance Corporation financed a large amount of the infrastructure of the 20th century, including the landmark Pennsylvania Turnpike; and

WHEREAS, a national infrastructure bank that partners with the state and local governments can supply the needed financing to bring infrastructure to a state of good repair; and

WHEREAS, this investment would restart various industries in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, creating millions of new high-paying jobs; and

WHEREAS, National Congress of Black Women, National Federation of Federal Employees, National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association, the Democratic National Committee, and 

Northampton County Democratic Committee (PA) as well as 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; and

WHEREAS, various state legislatures have introduced resolutions including the New Jersey and Pennsylvania House of Representatives; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee urge the Democrats in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pass House Resolution 636 (2019) which urges the Congress of the United States to establish a National Infrastructure Bank; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee urge the Democrats in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pass Senate Resolution 338 (2020) which urges the Congress of the United States to establish a National Infrastructure Bank; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee urge the Pennsylvania Democratic members of the Congress of the United States to pass HR 6422 which establishes a National Infrastructure Bank.

Submitted by:

Laura Quick 

Member

Representing Lebanon County