As Infrastructure Legislation Comes Together in Senate, International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers Shares Policy Priorities

WASHINGTON, July 17 (TNSPol) -- The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers issued the following news release:

Over the last two weeks, the Senate has made significant progress on defining the legislative approach for achieving necessary and long overdue physical infrastructure improvements, for investing domestic manufacturing and the technologies for the future, and for equitable investments in good-paying jobs, in communities and in social infrastructure throughout the U.S.

In response to Congress sharpening it's focus on infrastructure, IFPTE sent letters to Congressional leadership and Senators highlighting the union's policy priorities for the proposed $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and the $3.5 trillion budget resolution

The specific policies, funding, and revenue-generating provisions of both legislative vehicles have yet to be determined by legislators. IFPTE will engage with key committees and offices to ensure infrastructure legislation supports IFPTE members and our members' industries and sectors.

Read IFPTE's letter, sent to Senate Committee Chairs on July 12, in support of inclusion of certain policy provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework.

Read IFPTE's letter, sent to Senators on July 14, urging passage of a robust budget reconciliation infrastructure package that supports working people and their families, public services, and the infrastructure needs of the present and the future.

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July 12, 2021

To: Dear Senate Committee Chair,

As the executive officers of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE), we are writing to share our support and our priorities for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework under consideration in the U.S. Senate.

Our support for these urgently needed federal infrastructure commitments is driven by the concerns of our 90,000 union members who work in a diverse set of industries and sectors throughout the economy. As our nation and the communities where our members live and work anticipate the post-pandemic recovery, we look to Congress to work together to pass legislation that meets not just the urgent concerns of American workers, but the long-term and longneglected needs of working families and communities, industries, and our nation.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework is not only a chance to remedy what the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) calculates is a $2 trillion infrastructure maintenance and repair deficit, but it is also a pathway for encouraging high-quality union jobs in the public and private sectors. As this legislative effort moves from framework to bill text, we urge you to maintain at least $579 billion in new spending and a total spending amount of at least $1.2 trillion over 8 years.

We also that ask you and your Senate colleagues build on the well-considered provisions in the INVEST in America Act (H.R. 3684), which passed the House with bipartisan support earlier this month. The INVEST in America Act fits well within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and we urge you to incorporate that bill's policy commitments to transit and rail, clean energy and pollution reduction, road safety, and the Buy America provisions and labor standards.

IFPTE asks you to include the following provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework:

* Transit and Rail Modernization - We urge you to maintain the top line funding amounts for what would be the federal government's largest investment in public transit and rail. Transit funding should close transit equity gaps, prepare for future investments, include disaster mitigation, and require set-asides for low-income and underserved urban and rural areas.

* Progressive Funding for Infrastructure, Not from Privatization of Public Infrastructure and Services - Infrastructure investment should be funded through tax fairness, not by irresponsible and short-sighted proposals to promote public-private partnerships, asset recycling, and selling off existing public infrastructure. By closing corporate tax loopholes and offshore tax dodging, requiring the wealthiest earners and corporations to pay their fair share of taxes, and paying for infrastructure with tax revenues, we can expand opportunities for working families while fixing a tax system that has contributed to worsening income and wealth inequality.

* Investments in Energy and Electric Grid - As recent outages in regional transmission systems have shown, investment in a resilient and energy efficient transmission and distribution system is urgently required to meet current needs and to prepare for future expansion of clean energy generation and utilization. We urge including at least $73 billion for power infrastructure.

* Highway, Road, Bridge Repair and Construction - The ASCE's 2021 Infrastructure Report Card notes that over 40% of the nation's roads and highways are in poor or mediocre condition and 7.5% of the nation's bridges are considered structurally deficient. While the repair and maintenance backlog for roads and bridges enhancements tops $435 billion, the $110 billion for surface transportation in the Framework would be a significant step forward.

* Airports, Ports, and Waterways - With long-term trends indicating growing capacity challenges, our aviation infrastructure is expected to face at least a $11 billion funding shortfall over 10 years in pre-pandemic projections. Meanwhile the industries that rely on the inland waterways are harmed by delays related to the backlog of repairs. The $41.3 billion called for in the Framework for airports, ports, and waterways is a robust investment in critical multimodal infrastructure.

* Investment in Drinking and Wastewater Systems - Investments for upgrading and fixing service and sewer lines and pipes is a critical and urgent public health issue for millions of American families. Funding should focus on repairing water systems for disadvantaged communities and include innovative technologies that increase safety, reliability, and efficiency for all Americans.

* Support for American Jobs, Buy America, and Public Services - As we emerge from the largest employment crisis in a century and apply the lessons of the pandemic to rebuild a resilient economy that ensures a path to the middle-class for all working people, IFPTE urges lawmakers to include Buy America rules and language in all infrastructure legislation that clarifies the role of inherently governmental inspection work. Further, provisions should require fair cost comparisons between the public sector and private sector so that taxpayers are guaranteed quality infrastructure services at the best price.

Finally, we applaud the principled and bipartisan work that Senators and President Biden have taken to forge a path for long overdue infrastructure investments and modernization. Because the scale of our infrastructure deficit is so vast and the improvements needed to address future pressures on our infrastructure systems are so great, we fully anticipate additional legislation will be necessary to advance towards the broad goals of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework. IFPTE urges you to continue to work on additional legislation to accompany the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework.

Thank you for considering our priorities. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly or contact IFPTE Legislative Representative Faraz Khan at 202-239-4880.

Sincerely,

Paul Shearon, IFPTE President

Matthew S. Biggs, IFPTE Secretary Treasurer/Legislative Director

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July 14, 2021

To: Dear Senator,

As the executive officers of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE), a labor union representing upwards of 90,000 union members who work in a diverse set industries and sectors throughout the economy, we are writing to share our support for bold legislative action that is based on President Biden's American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan.

With the Senate Budget Committee agreeing to a $3.5 trillion budget resolution for a bill focused on jobs, infrastructure, and investment in our economy, we urge you to include policies that not only address the massive infrastructure funding gap, but to address the physical and social infrastructure needs of the present and the future. We also request that you support strong labor standards and worker rights throughout the provisions of this necessary and transformative legislation.

Our union supports the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework currently under consideration in the Senate, but we fully expect that this budget reconciliation bill will be necessary to meet the physical and social infrastructure needs that have bipartisan support throughout the country.

We urge the Senate committees of jurisdiction to include the following in a budget reconciliation bill that builds on the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan:

* Repair and modernize transportation infrastructure. Provisions concerning transportation systems should tackle the road and bridge maintenance backlog and go further by anticipating future capacity needs and funding clean/energy efficient transportation technologies. Similarly, investments in public transit and rail should not only address overdue maintenance needs, but include transformative projects that expand rail corridors, close transit equity gaps, improve safety, and provide disaster mitigation.

* Rebuild the public sector and support for states and localities to pursue infrastructure projects. Investments in social infrastructure and community-based services at the state and local level are critical, especially in light of the COVID pandemic and the climate crisis. Additionally, lowering the cost of borrowing for states and localities through taxable municipal bonds, such as Build America Bonds, will accelerate funding of locally needed projects.

* Retooling and rebuilding American manufacturing and supply chains. Major investments are needed to make ensure U.S. advanced manufacturing industries are globally competitive. This infrastructure package should include coordinated federal R&D and federal procurement policies that support and encourage domestic industrial production and supply chains.

* Including Buy America, prevailing wage requirements, labor standards, and inherently governmental work. Considering the scale of investment needed, this infrastructure package should utilize the federal government's procurement power to drive strong domestic content requirements and ensure high-road union jobs. Labor provisions should go further and prohibit companies from claiming tax deductions for union avoidance expenses, repeal the "safe harbor" rule that shields employers from taxes and penalties for misclassifying employees as independent contractors, and create new monetary penalties under the NLRA for employer ULPs to be paid to the federal government. Any federal grants included in this legislation should require recipients to refrain from engaging in in anti-union activities, including receiving assistance from union avoidance consultants, with the penalty that grants must be returned to the federal entity. Additionally, this bill should include provisions that preserve the role of inherently governmental work in the federal, state, and local public service.

* Repair and modernize housing, commercial buildings, schools, federal facilities, and water infrastructure. Investments should be directed to provide new and retrofitted high-quality affordable public housing. Infrastructure funding for schools, early learning centers, and community colleges is needed to make sure all working families have equitable and safe public education facilities. Additionally, federal government buildings and properties are long overdue for upgrades. Drinking water and wastewater systems also require substantial and urgent repairs and upgrades to improve safety, reliability, and efficiency.

* Investments in electric grid and clean energy. Investment in a resilient and energy efficient transmission and distribution urgently required to meet current needs and climate change mitigation. Energy provisions in this legislation should also support domestic R&D and manufacturing of clean energy technology, production of low-emission fuels and transportation, and bringing advanced nuclear and hydro power generation online.

* Support our aviation system, ports, and waterways. With growing capacity pressures, the need for post-pandemic safety, and the eventuality of new fuels and energy efficiency technology, our aviation infrastructure overdue for infrastructure. Meanwhile the industries that rely on the inland waterways are harmed by delays related to the backlog of repairs. Our airports, ports and waterways are critical for our economy and for national security, and robust investments should be made with an eye to repairing current project backlogs and building for future utilization.

* Authorizing Medicare drug price negotiation and expanding Medicare benefits and eligibility age. This legislation offers an opportunity to improve Americans' ability to afford prescription drugs and use the savings from drug-pricing to improve Medicare benefits to include dental, vision, hearing, an out-of-pocket cap, and lower the eligibility age. These policies have widespread bipartisan support among Americans and would fundamentally improve the health care of millions of Americans and drive down the cost of health coverage.

* Expanding school nutrition. To support American families and provide a guarantee of food nutrition to all children, this legislation should extend free school meals beyond the current means-tested eligibility and offer meals to children during summer.

* Extending public education with universal pre-school and free college. This legislation should provide children and students with a guarantee of at least two years of pre-school and at least two years of tuition-free public college.

* Pathway to citizenship for DACA and TPS-eligible immigrants. Providing a pathway to citizenship to DACA and TPS immigrants is not only fair, but it also provides a substantial stimulus to the economy, affords these immigrants the protection of our labor laws, and allows them the right to fully to participate in our democracy.

* Guaranteeing paid family and medical leave. This legislative vehicle is an opportunity to make sure American workers don't have to choose between taking care of their families and themselves or maintaining their employment. We urge the inclusion of at least 12 weeks of family and medical leave at 100% replacement income for workers across all sectors of the economy.

* Funding infrastructure though progressive taxation. Infrastructure investment should be funded through fair taxation policies, including closing corporate tax loopholes for offshoring, requiring the wealthiest earners and corporations to pay their fair share of taxes, and paying for infrastructure with tax revenues. This approach allows fixes a tax system that has contributed to worsening income and wealth inequality.

We applaud Senate Democrats and the Budget Committee for your work to undertake this transformative legislation that modernizes the American economy. We urge you to pass a bill through the budget reconciliation process that propels the nation toward equitable economic growth driven by high-road union jobs, public services and public education, clean energy, domestic manufacturing, and infrastructure that improves living standards for all Americans.

Thank you for considering our priorities. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly or contact IFPTE Legislative Representative Faraz Khan at 202-239-4880.

Sincerely,

Paul Shearon, IFPTE President

Matthew S. Biggs, IFPTE Secretary Treasurer/Legislative Director