Obama Urges Congress To Approve Legislation On Infrastructure Investment
President Barack Obama on Wednesday urged the U.S. House of Representatives to approve a bipartisan bill that will invest 109,000 million dollars (82,400 million) to modernize roads, bridges and rail systems in the next two years, and finally excludes the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.
The measure enjoys bipartisan support in the House and among the unions, because it creates or preserves nearly three million jobs, and among employers, because it facilitates thousands of new contracts for infrastructure works.
“Last week, the Senate approved a bipartisan bill that will keep transportation jobs of construction workers and will keep our economy growing,” Obama said in a statement released by the White House.
“Now both parties must take action in the House of Representatives for me to sign this law,” stressed the president.
According to Obama, this bill would allow his government to continue working on a sustainable economy, and one of the pillars on which rests on “a world class infrastructure” that would transport the goods and people, “of as quickly and efficiently as possible. ”
“That’s why we must continue to make investments that create jobs by rebuilding and modernization of our roads, bridges and railways. (…) My administration will continue fighting for long-term investments necessary to ensure that States U.S. prepared to continue to compete and succeed in a global economy, “concluded the president.
The measure, which passed the Senate after a series of debates and votes on nearly forty amendments, was approved by 74 votes in favor and 22 against.
Throughout the debate, several Republicans insisted on including a clause in the legislation to expedite the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, TransCanada Canadian company.
The U.S. Congress must approve the measure quickly, since March 31 due the Government’s authority to raise about 110 million dollars a day in fuel taxes.
These taxes are the main source of funding for various road and transportation programs by the federal government.
The only option left if the House does not approve the Senate version is that Congress authorize a temporary extension to avoid cancellation of works or layoffs.
Category: Business News
