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Van Hollen, Senate Democrats Announce Infrastructure Investment Proposal

Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced his support of the Senate Democrats' new $1 trillion infrastructure investment proposal. The plan would create more than 15 million jobs, and it would be paid for by ending massive tax giveaways to the very wealthy and big corporations. It stands in stark contrast to the infrastructure outline from the Trump Administration, which claims to invest $200 billion in our crumbling roads and bridges, but actually cuts overall infrastructure spending after taking into account the rest of President Trump's budget.

"In Maryland and across the country, infrastructure is central to our economic success - from road and bridges, to schools and high-speed broadband, to water systems and airports. But it's not enough to claim to care about this issue - working families want to see a clear plan to make the necessary investments to compete in the global economy. This plan creates good-paying jobs and revitalizes main streets in every state," said Senator Van Hollen. "For Maryland, it means funding for projects like dredging the Port of Baltimore and widening I-81. It means better schools for our kids and faster internet for our small businesses. And it means that instead of a tax windfall for billionaires and special interests, we're investing in middle-class jobs. I hope that President Trump and Congressional Republicans will work with us on this critical issue."

To read the full proposal, click here. The plan would invest in the following programs, and could be used to address a wide range of priorities in Maryland:

  • $140 Billion to Repair America's Roads & Bridges - which could help fund projects like the Hanover Street Bridge in Baltimore City and the Governor Harry M. Nice Memorial Bridge in Charles County.
  • $10 Billion to Expand the TIGER Program - which funds critical local projects to reduce congestion, improve safety, and enhance economic development. Maryland received a TIGER grant just this week to support the development of the TradePoint Atlantic Sparrows Point project in Baltimore County.
  • $115 Billion to Modernize America's Water & Sewer Systems - which could be used to repair aging water infrastructure in Baltimore City and around the state, including in rural communities.
  • $115 Billion to Repair & Improve Public Transportation - which will support the Purple Line and a new Critical Asset Repair program that could help bring WMATA to a state of good repair.
  • $50 Billion to Modernize and Improve the Safety of America's Rail Infrastructure - which will improve Amtrak and its infrastructure and could also help MARC where it shares Amtrak tracks.
  • $40 Billion for a new Vital Infrastructure Program - which will fund transformative projects and will allow Maryland to think big in addressing major congestion issues, like with Port Covington's Access I-95: Driving Baltimore City's Growth project.
  • $30 Billion to Revitalize Main Street & Promote Innovative Transportation - which would help create safe bicycle and pedestrian routes to help Marylanders get around. It would also provide a boost of funding for the Economic Development Administration, which creates opportunities across Maryland - from our Western Counties to the Eastern Shore to small business support in Baltimore City.
  • $62 Billion for Neighborhood Revitalization, Lead Remediation, & Affordable Housing - which will fund programs like the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the Housing Trust Fund, and help create new affordable housing. Investments in the Community Development Block Grant will give flexible opportunities to meet local needs. And Lead Remediation Assistance will help repair aging housing and protect families in Baltimore, Prince George's County, and other areas that have older housing stock.
  • $50 Billion to Rebuild America's Schools - which could assist public schools in Baltimore City that were forced to close this winter due to lack of heat, schools in Baltimore County that suffered from a lack of air conditioning in the summer, and communities with growing student populations that need new schools.
  • $30 Billion to Modernize America's Ports & Waterways - which would support the vital dredging of the Port of Baltimore and the Port of Salisbury, as well as other backlogged Army Corps of Engineers projects.
  • $40 Billion to Improve America's Airports & Airspace - which could support the much-needed control tower replacements at BWI and Martin State Airports.
  • $25 Billion to Build More Resilient Communities - which could help reduce vulnerability to rising sea levels and floods as severe storms and nuisance flooding threaten Annapolis and Maryland's coastlines.
  • $80 Billion to Bring Innovation to America's Energy Grid & Promote Clean Energy - which would support Maryland's state actions to increase its clean energy, conservation, and renewable portfolio, as well as make sure our electric supply is secure through grid improvements and cybersecurity protections.
  • $40 Billion to Provide Universal High-Speed Internet - which could help provide connectivity to our rural areas like Garrett, Talbot, and Allegany Counties.
  • $15 Billion for Construction on America's Public Lands - which would help reduce backlogged projects at National Parks and Monuments like Catoctin Mountain National Park, the C&O Canal National Historical Park, and Fort McHenry. Funding would also be available for historic preservation projects at older Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), like Bowie State, which is one of the ten oldest HBCUs in the country. All of Maryland's HBCUs were founded in 1900 or earlier.
  • $10 Billion to Address the Construction Backlog at VA Healthcare Facilities - which would help rehab older VA hospitals and clinics, update National Guard and Reserve Centers, and build new Extended Care Facilities to help the aging population in Maryland and across the country.
  • $20 Billion in Innovative Financing Tools - which would expand funding for projects like the Purple Line and create a new Infrastructure Financing Authority to act as an Infrastructure Bank for innovative projects.
  • $140 Billion to Ensure the Solvency of the Highway Trust Fund for the next 10 years - which will make sure that Maryland can keep up its 'state of good repair' work all over the state.

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