Contributor: Value of Water Campaign

Today the seventh annual national Infrastructure Week kicked off with an event in Washington, DC keynoted by Rep. Steny Hoyer and featuring policy, labor and private sector leaders. From May 13-20, hundreds of businesses, labor organizations, elected officials, and more will come together to spread the message that we must #BuildForTomorrow, starting now.

Voters consistently and overwhelmingly support investing in our nation’s infrastructure, with recent polling showing that nearly 80 percent of voters – across parties – believe federal action on infrastructure is important and urgent. In 2018, voters approved transportation and infrastructure initiatives at the ballot box at a rate of 87 percent. But the most important infrastructure projects of our times – from bridges to water systems to rail to airports – cannot come to fruition without a strong federal partner ready to invest meaningfully in our infrastructure.

“We are so thankful that Infrastructure Week is highlighting solutions to address our nation’s aging and failing water infrastructure. We may come from different walks of life, but we all agree that rebuilding our water infrastructure is a priority. Our latest poll found steadfast bipartisan support for water infrastructure. Water is one of the most powerful conveners of diverse interests, and our elected officials and those campaigning this year would do well to listen and act on infrastructure” says Radhika Fox, Director of the Value of Water Campaign and CEO of the US Water Alliance.

Infrastructure Week is led by its steering committee of the AFL-CIO, US Chamber of Commerce, Brookings: Metropolitan Policy Program, American Society of Civil Engineers, Business Roundtable, Building America’s Future, National Association of Manufacturers, and Value of Water Campaign. The bipartisan steering committee is joined by more than 500 affiliates, hosting 100 events in Washington, DC and across America. In addition to the kickoff event in Washington, there will be regional Infrastructure Week summits in Lansing, Michigan; Houston, Texas; and Las Vegas, Nevada.