Earlier this month, Vermont’s two U.S. Senators – Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced a 10 year, $1 trillion proposal to rebuild the nation’s crumbling infrastructure. Titled Blueprint to Rebuild America’s Infrastructure, the proposal calls for investments in numerous high priority areas with national water resiliency as a top concern. Over $100 million of the proposed funding is occupied by wide-scale water and sewer upgrades. [1][2]
With an estimated 240,000 water main breaks per year in the U.S. and after the incident seen in Flint, Michigan, investments in sustainable and resilient water and wastewater infrastructure have come to national attention. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) reports the cost to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure over the coming decades is well over $1 trillion. [3]
“Look, this is kind of a ‘no-brainer,” said Sen. Sanders, the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, in a Vermont Business Magazine article. “…Our infrastructure is crumbling: our roads, our bridges, our water systems, our wastewater plants, our airports, our levies, and our dams.” [2]
According to an article in Vermont Business Magazine, the United States spends less now (as a percent of the gross domestic product) than any other time in the past 20 years on infrastructure related needs. [2] Based on ASCE reports, the $1 trillion proposal is about a quarter of the estimated investment needed for national infrastructure improvements. [2][3]
The proposal’s new water and sewer program intends to provide local communities and taxpayers with federal grants, creating 2.5 million jobs. The program proposes to increase Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF) and add flexibility to grant funding for communities. [2]
“We used to lead the world,” Sen. Sanders stated. “The United States was No. 1 in the quality of our infrastructure. Today, we are No. 12,” [2]
published 2/24/2017
[1] Craven, Jasper. Leahy, Sanders Back $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan. VTDigger, January 25, 2017. Web. https://vtdigger.org/2017/01/25/leahy-sanders-back-1-trillion-infrastructure-plan/ [2] Vermont Business Magazine. Sanders, Dem Senate leaders unveil $1 trillion infrastructure plan. VermontBiz, January 24, 2017. Web. http://www.vermontbiz.com/news/january/sanders-dem-senate-leaders-unveil-1-trillion-infrastructure-plan [3] American Society of Civil Engineers. 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. American Society of Civil Engineers, 2017. Web. http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/executive-summary/