Civil Engineers Respond to 2020 State of the Union Address

The following is a statement by Kancheepuram N. Gunalan "Guna", Ph.D., PE, President, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in response to the President Trump's State of the Union address to Congress on February 4, 2020:

“The standing ovation on both sides of the aisle when President Trump mentioned rebuilding America’s infrastructure during tonight’s State of the Union Address indicated that it’s time to get to work on bipartisan solutions for our nation’s roads, bridges, electric grid, water systems, railways, transit systems, and more. This is where we can make progress as a nation, and American voters are desperate for action. 

The President also urged Congress to pass America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act in 2020– the largest highway bill in history. This bipartisan bill, which ASCE supports, would invest $287 billion in roads, bridges, and highways, and rebuild our infrastructure resiliently. Democrats and Republicans still have the opportunity to make history by working together to fill a $2 trillion deficit over the next decade. The longer we underinvest, the more money American families will continue to lose because of potholes, car repairs, and water main breaks, adding up to at least $3,400 a year in disposable income.

I am pleased that both the President and Governor Whitmer gave infrastructure investment -  rebuilding roads and bridges, providing clean drinking water, and expanding access to rural broadband – the attention that it deserves. An infrastructure bill should be the top priority for lawmakers in 2020.”