WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), and CPC Member Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) made the following statement today after President Trump announced that he will offer several infrastructure proposals this week, starting with an effort to privatize the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Control system.
“President Trump’s attempt to shift public attention away from his Russia troubles by rolling out an infrastructure privatization scheme only exposes his Administration’s radical agenda to sell off the highways, bridges, and clean water we all rely on to benefit foreign corporations and Wall Street investors. President Trump’s push today to dismantle the Federal Aviation Administration and put it under private control is just the first step of a larger scheme that appears to cut existing infrastructure spending while forcing taxpayers to subsidize the construction of border walls and private prisons. If this administration was serious about putting people to work and addressing our infrastructure needs they would be touting something very different.”
“The Congressional Progressive Caucus has a real solution. Our 21st Century New Deal for Jobs is a bold vision that puts 2.5 million people to work in revitalizing our schools, parks, bridges, roads and drinking water, while laying the foundations of a 21st-century economy through clean energy, high-speed rail, and lightning-fast internet for all. Rather than selling off public assets to the highest bidder, as Trump intends to do, our $2 trillion plan makes big corporations pay their fair share. Over the past week, over 30 House Democrats have rallied behind our resolution, which lays out clear principles for an infrastructure plan that creates millions of good jobs while preventing Trump and the Republicans in Congress from selling off and privatizing our public roads, bridges, and ports.
“Public money must serve the public good. Americans don’t want to pay for a Trump corporate giveaway, and his feeble attempt at an infrastructure plan will fall flat, while the CPC’s New Deal for Jobs will continue to gain momentum across the country.”
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest caucus within the House Democratic Caucus, with over 70 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and promote civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, a $15 national minimum wage, fair trade, gun violence reform, debt-free college, and making the federal government a Model Employer.
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