What Theyre Saying About the Warner-Blunt BRIDGE Act

The 31 national associations and construction trade unions of the Transportation Construction
Coalition (TCC) applaud your bipartisan efforts in crafting the Building and Renewing
Infrastructure for Development and Growth in Employment (BRIDGE) Act. We support your
proposal as a means to supplement the core federal transportation investment programs by
utilizing an array of financing tools to encourage private sector investment in needed
transportation infrastructure improvements. As Congress and the Administration move forward
on a rewrite of the nations tax code and an encompassing infrastructure package promised by
President Trump, the TCC believes a permanent solution to the Highway Trust Fund revenue
shortfall should finally be addressed and included in either of these legislative
packages. Additionally, all options, including alternative project delivery and finance methods
like the BRIDGE Act, to address the nation's infrastructure deficit need to be considered as
well. The BRIDGE Act represents an innovative approach that would provide the ability to
support nationally and regionally significant infrastructure projects that require innovative
financing outside the existing core federal programs.

- The Transportation Construction Coalition, representing 31 national associations and

construction trade unions

If we are to improve our nations infrastructure, graded a D+ in ASCEs 2017 Infrastructure

Report Card, we can no longer afford to defer needed investment in modernization and
maintenance. Under Sen. Warners leadership, the BRIDGE Act would make a significant step
toward this increased, sustained investment, establishing a new, innovative funding authority
designed to attract billions of dollars in private sector investment in our nations water,
transportation, and energy sectors. Sen. Blunts co-sponsorship demonstrates once again that
infrastructure is a bipartisan issue that impacts the lives of all Americans. Through the BRIDGE
Act, our nations infrastructure will receive much-needed additional funding to help narrow the
$2 trillion infrastructure investment gap that currently costs every American family $3,400 a
year out of their discretionary income.

- Norma Jean Mattei, PH.D., P.E., President, American Society of Civil Engineers

The reintroduction of Senator Warner's Building and Renewing Infrastructure for Development
and Growth in Employment (BRIDGE) Act reaffirms his commitment to address the challenge
of rebuilding Americas crumbling infrastructure. Investing in the repair and improvement of
Americas physical infrastructure, from roads to bridges to pipelines to water systems to
buildings, has consistently proven to be the most effective platform upon which sustained
economic growth will occur. Such investments were the key driver that fueled our nations
industrial dominance in the 20th century, and through efforts like Senator's Warner's bill, we can
achieve levels of economic growth and prosperity, while simultaneously protecting family
sustaining wage and benefit standards.

- Sean McGarvey, President, North America's Building Trades Unions (national and
international unions that collectively represent approximately 3 million skilled craft men
and women in the United States and Canada)

Senators Roy Blunt of Missouri and Mark Warner of Virginia, should be commended for their
ongoing effort to strengthen our nations investment in critical infrastructure. Their legislation,
The Building and Renewing Infrastructure for Development and Growth in Employment Act
(The BRIDGE Act), establishes a set of creative tools and incentives to draw private capital off
the sidelines and promote effective public private partnerships. There is at least a $1.4 trillion
shortfall in funding needed to adequately support infrastructure needs between now and 2025.
The BRIDGE Act is key to unlocking private investment necessary to support long-term
economic growth and a more competitive nation.

- Jason Grumet, President, Bipartisan Policy Center

I applaud Senators Warner and Blunt for re-introducing the BRIDGE Act an ambitious plan
to improve Americas highways, bridges, ports, transit and aviation system. This bi-partisan
legislation recognizes the United States urgent need to improve our infrastructure, so that we
may once again be a global competitor in todays interconnected marketplace. The BRIDGE Act
employs a creative financing mechanism which leverages private investments with those from
the federal, state and local sources. Fixing our state, local, and national infrastructure is a large
task, and one that calls for a large-scale plan that leverages all financing options, from the public
to the private sector. The BRIDGE Act is a first-rate example of the type of legislation that could
help tackle this issue.

- Ed Rendell, Co-Chair of Building Americas Future, Former Governor of Pennsylvania

ATA applauds Senator Warner and Senator Blunt for reintroducing the BRIDGE Act. The
trucking industry relies on a safe and efficient highway system to move approximately 70% of
the nations goods, and the challenges to adequately fund our highway system is threatening our
industrys continued success. The BRIDGE Act is a good proposal to address our nations
infrastructure funding challenges because it will unlock financing tools for cities and states. This
bipartisan legislation, when combined with additional revenue from user fees, can help fund
needed improvements to our nations highways and keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent.

- Chris Spear, President and CEO, American Trucking Association

Bills designed to increase investments in our countrys infrastructure, such as BRIDGE Act, are
vital to continued American strength. We must take steps now to invest in our countrys
infrastructure, sustaining economic growth and creating American jobs. ... Together with their
private-sector partners, ports will invest over $30 billion annually in marine terminal
infrastructure for the next five years. For America to remain globally competitive, however, we
need the federal government not only to invest directly to infrastructure projects but also to
create incentives for private and local investments as well. Investments now will pay dividends
in the long run by reversing the widening gap in freight movement infrastructure spending
between our country and spending levels of our competitors. ... America can and must do better.
It is for this reason that legislation such as the BRIDGE Act is so important.

- Kurt J. Nagle, President and CEO, American Association of Port Authorities

I applaud the leadership of Senator Warner and Senator Blunt in their efforts to rebuild our
nations infrastructure by encouraging private sector investment. While increased federal funding
remains most critical to expanding and improving transportation infrastructure, financing options
such as the one proposed under the BRIDGE Act are important tools that are useful in
developing infrastructure projects. If paired with freight-focused federal grant programs, like
FASTLANE and TIGER, the BRIDGE Act could be an important piece of the solution needed to
bolster Americas economic engine our freight network.

- Elaine Nessle, Executive Director, Coalition for Americas Gateways and Trade
Corridors

The creation of an Infrastructure Financing Authority (IFA) to supplement existing government-

sponsored infrastructure funding has the advantage of further leveraging private sector
investment. This authority will also offer greater opportunities for private sector investment
beyond traditional transportation projects to other infrastructure needs including water and other
utilities such as electric transmission and gas pipelines. The independent nature of the
proposed authority will also will stimulate responsible investment that is good for the U.S.
taxpayer by prioritizing projects with strong public benefits and clear financing plans.

- Jane F. Garvey, North America Chairman of Meridiam Infrastructure, Former

Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration

Local communities need every available resource to guide their investments in transportation
infrastructure and the BRIDGE Act would provide another valuable tool to help our cities, towns
and suburbs stay competitive. Creating an Infrastructure Financing Authority will enable
communities to make crucial repairs and to build the modern network that will spur economic
development for years to come.

- Adrea Turner, Director, Transportation for America

I compliment Senator Warners tireless focus on investing in America's critical transportation

infrastructure network through the reintroduction of the BRIDGE Act. This legislation would
incentivize private investment in critical infrastructure projects and pair that investment with
available public dollars thereby growing the resources available to fund desperately needed
critical infrastructure projects both large and small. Given the condition of many of our nations
infrastructure needs, we must take an all-of-the-above approach to funding projects. Utilizing
creative financing tools that capture private sector investment and innovation is critical and could
help keep global interest in investing in the U.S. infrastructure market.

- Jennifer Aument, Transurban, Group General Manager North America