FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2013
December 12, 2013
AFGE Praises Report Calling for New Public Works Investments
WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees echoes the findings of a new report from the Center for Effective Government, which argues that Congress needs to shift its focus from slashing federal spending to investing in America’s future.
The report released today, “The Bridge to Prosperity: Reverse Reckless Cuts, Restore Our Infrastructure, and Revive Jobs,” argues that the U.S. has an investment deficit when it comes to our schools, roads, bridges, levees and dams, and clean water infrastructure.
By targeting new investments in these areas, Congress can create good-paying jobs and save money in the long run, all while improving the quality of life for all Americans.
“AFGE has been arguing for years that we can’t cut our way to economic prosperity, and this new report makes that crystal clear,” AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. said.
“We have a growing backlog of public works projects that has been ignored while Congress debates cutting federal employee wages and cutting cost-of-living adjustments for retirees and military veterans,” Cox said. “By repairing crumbling roads and bridges, restoring aging school buildings, upgrading water treatment plants and strengthening our flood control systems, we can improve our nation’s health and safety, create millions of good-paying jobs and save us from more costly repairs down the road.”
A $124 billion investment in essential public structures and infrastructure upgrades would create as many as 2.5 million jobs nationwide, the report finds.
In addition to investing in our public works projects, Cox called on Congress to eliminate sequestration and invest in a first-class government workforce that is positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
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