Infrastructure
Rebuilding our National Infrastructure
Rep. Israel has been an advocate for rebuilding our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. U.S. spending on infrastructure, as a percentage of GDP, has declined by 50% since 1960. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the current condition of the infrastructure in the US earns a grade point average of D and an estimated $2.2 trillion investment is needed over the next 5 years to meet adequate conditions.
Rep. Israel is an original co-sponsor of the National Infrastructure Development Bank Act of 2011 (H.R. 402), which he also co-sponsored in the 111th (2009-2010) and 110th Congress (2007-2008). Like the war bond program, the National Infrastructure Development Bank would allow ordinary Americans to “invest in America” to help meet the infrastructure challenge and promote responsible citizenship. The Bank is aimed at making loans to joint public-private partnerships, creating jobs and improving infrastructure in local communities.
Recovery Act Rebuilding
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act made a $48 billion investment in our nation’s infrastructure, including:
- $8.4 billion for mass transit
- $27.5 billion for highways and bridges
- $9.3 billion for rail
- $1.3 billion for airport improvement projects
- $1.5 billion for discretionary surface transportation projects
New York Rebuilds
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, New York roads and bridges are badly in need of repair. In New York State, 46 percent of major roads are in poor or mediocre condition and 42 percent of bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
From the Recovery Act, New York is set to receive more than $1 billion for highways and bridges and $1.25 billion for mass transit.
Helpful Links
More on Infrastructure
Northport, NY. –Congressman Steve Israel (NY-03) released the following statement after participating in a House Veterans Affairs hearing today at the Northport Veterans Hospital. The hearing was held to inquire about recent reports of deficiencies at the hospital and a veteran suicide in a parking lot on facility grounds in August.
Washington, D.C. –Congressman Steve Israel (NY-03) introduced two bills aimed at increasing American manufacturing and creating jobs in New York. The “American Parks American Products Act” would require the National Park Service to only sell merchandise that is made in the United States, and the “Bring the Jobs Home Loan Act” would authorize Small Business Administration (SBA) loans that would assist businesses that want to re-shore manufacturing jobs.
Melville, NY — Today, Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY-03) announced a federal investment of $151,000 for the Port Washington Fire Department as part of the competitive Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This investment will be used to hire a full-time firefighter/EMT to join one of the largest volunteer fire departments in New York State.
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY), Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-PA), and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) released the following statement after receiving a response from The Pokémon Company notifying the Members that Nianitic, the developer of Pokémon Go, had removed the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) from the game:
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Steve Israel (D –New York) introduced the Public Online Information Act of 2016, groundbreaking transparency legislation that would require executive branch agencies to make their public documents available online.
Melville, NY. — Today, Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) released the following statement after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers notified Village of Asharoken officials that in order for the beach restoration project to move forward, five public access points would be required. The Army Corps also notified Asharoken officials that the inclusion of public parking areas would be mandatory at each access point – a requirement that was previously deemed unnecessary by Army Corps officials.
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY), Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-PA), and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) sent a bipartisan letter to the developer and publisher of the popular mobile game Pokémon Go, urging them to remove the PokéStops at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) that encourages Pokémon Go users to play the game inside the museum. Reps. Israel, Meehan and Deutch are appointed members of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.
Woodbury, NY—Congressman Steve Israel (NY-03) joined Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove), Huntington Town Councilwoman Tracey Edwards, LGBT Network CEO David Kilmnick, and gun violence prevention advocates in a roundtable discussion as part of House Democrats’ “National Day of Action” to demand that Speaker Ryan and House Republicans take action to reduce gun violence. Last week, Rep.
Washington, DC –Reps. Steve Israel (NY-03), Nita Lowey (NY-17) and Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) announced $10 million in funding for Long Island Sound was included in the Fiscal Year 2017 Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The nearly $6.1 million increase in funding for Fiscal Year 2017 will be used for projects to improve water quality, habitat restoration, and water quality monitoring to improve the health of Long Island Sound.
Washington—Representatives Steve Israel (NY-03), Peter King (NY-02), Kathleen Rice (NY-04), and Lee Zeldin (NY-01) sent a bipartisan letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald calling on him to address the deteriorating conditions at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).