2021 -- S 0029

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LC000491

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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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: Senators DiPalma, Ruggerio, Miller, Ciccone, and Euer

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     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. 6422, 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. 6422, 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 Gina Raimondo, and the President of the United States.

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