Montpelier, Vermont, July 20, 2021. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) and the Vermont Mayors Coalition on Tuesday joined more than 400 municipal leaders from across the country in calling for Congress to take action on an infrastructure package that invests in cities, towns and villages to keep America moving and create jobs in Vermont. The two organizations issued a joint resolution that strongly supports President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and urges Congress to pass it without delay. The U.S. Senate is actively negotiating the infrastructure package this week.
The American Society of Civil Engineers gave Vermont a “C” grade on its most recent infrastructure report card. Significant investments are needed to improve that grade – $643 million alone is required to address the state’s drinking water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years. Funding to pay for such improvements can only come from the federal government.
VLCT Executive Director Ted Brady said: “We look forward to working with our delegation, Senators Sanders and Leahy and Congressman Welch to secure passage of a bipartisan recovery package that creates a transformational and much needed investment in infrastructure, workforce, and community resilience both here in Vermont and across the country.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework would invest in rebuilt and expanded transportation, water and wastewater, and broadband infrastructure; increase reliability and the use of technology to ensure sustainable and resilient systems; invest in environmental remediation and climate resiliency; and create an Infrastructure Financing Authority to pay for clean transportation and energy. Directing those investments to asset owners at the local level would streamline their deployment and eliminate bureaucratic delays.
Click the link below to read the resolution.