Infrastructure Funding Seen as Major Priority of Biden Administration

In the wake of Democrat presidential nominee Joseph Biden securing enough electoral votes to become the next U.S. president, a new emphasis is expected to be placed on tackling the country’s ongoing infrastructure challenges.

In a statement, Stephen Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors, remarked: “We are ready to work with the incoming administration and Congress to help craft an agenda that is focused in rebuilding infrastructure and reviving the national economy.”

Thomas Donahue, chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, remarked that “modernizing our infrastructure has broad support and can drive growth.”

Continued Donahue: “If the Biden administration prioritizes something that can, and must, be done in a collaborative manner, it can set the tone for good governance on other priorities essential to rebuilding our economy.”

During the campaign Biden said he was committed to investing up to $2 trillion to pay for transportation infrastructure projects across the country, as well as new affordable housing.

But in an interview with the publication Construction Dive, Jay Hanson, executive vice-presidency for advocacy at the National Asphalt Pavement Association, noted that a Biden administration will also most likely also usher in a new set of challenges for builders.
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Noting that Biden said he will be committed to seeing federal infrastructure projects using only American-made materials, Hansen additionally noted: “Disadvantaged Business Enterprise labor agreements and those kinds of programs will get tougher.”

​By Garry Boulard

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