SPONSOR:

Sen. Ennis

Sens. Gay, Hansen, Mantzavinos, S. McBride, Paradee, Poore, Sokola, Townsend, Walsh

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 25

SUPPORTING FEDERAL LEGISLATION, H.R. 3339, TO CREATE A NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE BANK.

WHEREAS, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) stated in its 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure that the United States received a grade of “C-” regarding the current state of infrastructure and that more than $5,000,000,000,000 would be needed to restore the nation's infrastructure to a state of good repair; and

WHEREAS, currently more than $2,500,000,000,000 of the United States’ infrastructure needs are unfunded and the remainder is inadequately funded; and

WHEREAS, the ASCE identified the following regarding Delaware’s infrastructure: 63 of the 83 dams in the State are rated high-hazard potential; drinking-water infrastructure needs are at least $806,000,000; 16% of Delaware roads are in poor condition, costing each Delaware motorist $456 per year from driving on roads in need of repair; of Delaware’s 879 bridges, 3.2% were rated structurally deficient; the capital expenditure gap for State schools is $102,000,000; there are $206,000,000 in wastewater infrastructure needs; and

WHEREAS, funding is not currently available for federal 21st century projects that would transform transportation and increase employment in our State, such as construction of high-speed rail lines and upgrades in passenger rail service in the Northeast Corridor; and

WHEREAS, opportunity would be created by new industries and business moving to Delaware to build and supply expanded passenger and high-speed rail; and

WHEREAS, H.R. 3339, the National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2021 (Act), was introduced in the House of Representatives of the United States Congress for the purpose of creating a National Infrastructure Bank; and

WHEREAS, the Act would create a $5,000,000,000,000 bank, authorized to invest solely in infrastructure projects; and

WHEREAS, the National Infrastructure Bank would not require new federal spending or new federal taxes but rather would be capitalized by repurposing existing Treasury debt; and

WHEREAS, the National Infrastructure Bank is modeled on previous banks that helped build much of the United States’ infrastructure under Presidents George Washington, John Quincy Adams, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt and helped the United States overcome the Great Depression and win World War II; and

WHEREAS, a new National Infrastructure Bank could help finance much of Delaware’s infrastructure needs in partnership with State and local governments, and other authorities, and create high-paying jobs for those who have lost employment during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, a new National Infrastructure Bank could create 25,000,000 new jobs, pay Davis-Bacon wages, ensure project labor agreements, mandate “Buy American” provisions, award a significant number of contracts to disadvantaged business enterprises, and require large-scale minority hiring; and

WHEREAS, experts predict a National Infrastructure Bank would grow the economy by 5% per year, as did its predecessors; and

WHEREAS, 21 state legislatures have introduced or passed resolutions of support, including the Nevada Legislature, the Maine State Legislature, the Rhode Island Senate, the New Jersey Senate, the New Mexico Senate, the Pennsylvania State Senate, and the Illinois Senate; and

WHEREAS, city councils have passed resolutions in support, including Philadelphia, PA; Toledo, OH; Providence, RI; Pittsburgh, PA; and Cleveland, OH; and

WHEREAS, many national organizations endorse the creation of the National Infrastructure Bank including the Public Banking Institute, the National Congress of Black Women, the National Association of Counties, the US High Speed Rail Association, the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association, the American Sustainable Business Council, the National Association of Minority Contractors, and the United Association Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders, and Service Techs.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 151st General Assembly of the State of Delaware that Delaware’s U.S. Congressional Delegation, Senator Thomas R. Carper, Senator Christopher A. Coons, and Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, are urged to support H.R. 3339 to create a National Infrastructure Bank to finance urgently needed infrastructure projects.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate urges the President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., to support H.R. 3339.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate send suitable copies of this resolution to the members of Delaware’s U.S. Congressional Delegation and President Biden so they may be apprised of the sense of the Delaware Senate in this matter.

SYNOPSIS

This Senate Simple Resolution urges Delaware's U.S. Congressional Delegation and the President of the United States to support federal legislation, H.R. 3339, to establish a National Infrastructure Bank to fund urgently needed infrastructure projects.

Author: Senator Ennis