R 337
2021 -- S 0992
Enacted 06/30/2021

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N
RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENDORSE THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE BANK

Introduced By: Senator Louis P. DiPalma

Date Introduced: June 28, 2021

     WHEREAS, The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) stated in its 2017 report
card that the United States received a grade of D+ regarding the current state of infrastructure and
that more than four and a half trillion dollars would be needed to restore the nation’s
infrastructure to a state of good repair. Over two trillion dollars is currently not funded and the
remainder is inadequately funded. New 21st-century projects are also unfunded; and
     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Section of ASCE gave the State a C- in its June, 2020,
report card. Among the grades were: Bridges D-, Drinking Water C+, Ports C, Rail B-, Roads D,
and Wastewater C. Forty-four percent of Rhode Island’s gas lines are over 50 years old and
require repair and upgrade; twenty-two percent of Rhode Island’s 779 bridges are structurally
deficient -- the worst in the nation; Rhode Island’s share of rural roads in poor condition is also
worst in the nation; Providence Water, the largest treatment facility in New England, is almost
100 years old, and its distribution network shows higher lead concentrations than are permitted by
the EPA; and
     WHEREAS, A new National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) could directly finance much of
the infrastructure of Rhode Island in partnership with state and local governments, the Rhode
Island Infrastructure Bank, and other institutions; it would also hire people who have lost their
jobs during the COVID pandemic; and
     WHEREAS, The NIB is modeled on previous banks which helped build much of our
infrastructure under Presidents George Washington, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, and
Franklin D. Roosevelt. The last such bank helped bring us out of the Depression and win WWII;
and
     WHEREAS, Congress introduced H.R. 3339, The National Infrastructure Bank Act of
2020, this spring to create a new National Infrastructure Bank. This legislation creates a $4
trillion bank, authorized to invest in infrastructure projects only. It would require no new federal
spending and be capitalized by repurposing existing Treasury debt, as was done previously in
U.S. history; and
     WHEREAS, The new National Infrastructure Bank will create twenty-five million new
high-paying jobs, pay Davis-Bacon wages, ensure Project Labor Agreements, and include Buy
American provisions. Disadvantaged Business Enterprises will be directly involved in building
the projects, and the bill mandates large-scale minority hiring. According to experts, the Bank
will grow the economy by 4-5 percent per year as did its predecessors; and
     WHEREAS, Many organizations have issued endorsements. Seventeen state legislatures
have introduced or passed resolutions of support, as have county and city councils. Endorsements
include: The Providence, City Council, The National Congress of Black Women, the National
Association of Counties, the US High Speed Rail Association, the National Latino Farmers and
Ranchers, The American Sustainable Business Council, the National Association of Minority
Contractors, the National Federation of Federal Employees and many more organizations; now,
therefore be it
     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby respectfully requests
the United States Congress to pass H.R. 3339, that would create a National Infrastructure Bank in
order to finance urgently needed infrastructure projects; and be it further
     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation,
Governor Daniel McKee, and the President of the United States.
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