Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) has studied President Trump’s infrastructure plan and supports a careful legislative process to implement the plan with fiscal restraint. President Trump’s drafted plan would spur $1.5 trillion in public-private infrastructure investments and eliminate red-tape barriers to growth.
“America, throughout our history, has been a nation of builders. However, our bloated government bureaucracy has caused necessary infrastructure projects to languish under red tape. President Trump is committed to breaking down those barriers and restoring our heritage of accomplishment through public-private partnerships and by empowering state and local leaders. Eliminating unnecessary, cumbersome, overlapping regulatory burdens and streamlining the permitting process will allow thousands of projects to finally move forward.
These regulatory and permit reforms have direct impacts on South Louisiana. Projects such as I-10 improvements, bridges, and the I-49 connector stand to benefit. Greater flexibility for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will expedite dredging projects for our ports and waterways. I look forward to working with my Legislative colleagues as we identify and attack barriers to growth and rebuild our nation’s infrastructure. We literally have to kick down bureaucratic walls in order to build real bridges.”
Some highlights of the plan:
- Stimulates Infrastructure Investment – invests $200 billion in federal funds to spur at least $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investments with partners at the state, local, tribal, and private level
- Eliminates Regulatory Barriers – streamlines federal environmental review and permitting by having one agency make one decision to reduce the permitting process to 2 years.
- Increases State & Local Authority – allows state and local leaders to prioritize projects in their own communities, rather than relying on federal bureaucrats to make local decisions.
- Empowers American Workers – reforms federal education and workforce development programs to better prepare Americans to perform the in-demand jobs of today and the future.
