WASHINGTON — January 30, 2018 — Following President Trump’s first State of the Union address to Congress, National League of Cities (NLC) President Mark Stodola, mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas, released the following statement:
“In his first State of the Union address, President Trump spoke to the need for real solutions to significant challenges facing the nation, including immigration, the opioid epidemic and the infrastructure deficit. City leaders agree with the president that Congress must come together to create a bill that repairs our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, and makes sorely-needed investments to rebuild America, so that we can compete in the global economy.
“City leaders are unable to ignore our nation’s aging infrastructure. Every day, we’re forced to make emergency repairs and often have to raise additional funds where we’re able. We are already leveraging every dollar available, and we need our federal partners to pay their share. That’s how we will build for 2050, instead of simply fixing 1950.
“As cities work to address the aging physical infrastructure needs in communities across America, we must simultaneously invest in the human capital that makes these projects possible. We urge federal investment in programs that ensure a diverse and skilled workforce and prepare people for the jobs of the future.”
Earlier this month, NLC launched the Rebuild With Us campaign, which calls on Congress to partner with cities to rebuild and reimagine America’s infrastructure. Click here to see NLC’s guiding principles for federal infrastructure investment.
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The National League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. www.nlc.org
On March 11 – 14, city leaders from across the nation will gather at the Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C., to speak up for city priorities and rebuild America’s infrastructure. Learn more at ccc.nlc.org/infrastructure.
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The National League of Cities (NLC) is the voice of America’s cities, towns and villages, representing more than 200 million people across the country. NLC works to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy and drive innovative solutions. Stay connected with NLC on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.