Statement of America's Building Trades Unions on the Introduction of the "Fix America's Schools Today Act"
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Building and Construction Trades Department President Mark H. Ayers issued the following statement today on the introduction of the "Fix America's Schools Today Act of 2011 (FAST)":
"America's Building Trades Unions applaud the introduction today by Senator Sherrod Brown and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of the "Fix America's Schools Today Act of 2011." This legislation addresses two critical issues facing America today: the need for immediate investments in our nation's infrastructure that will put Americans back to work; and the need to upgrade our public education facilities to meet the requirements demanded by a 21st century education.
The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that America's public schools need $160 billion over the next 5 years to merely be adequate. For every $1 billion spent on school infrastructure approximately 10,000 jobs are created. The FAST Act would direct nearly $25 billion to meeting this critical need, thereby creating nearly 250,000 jobs for construction workers across the country, all the while lowering these schools' energy and maintenance bills, updating facilities so our children can compete in the 21st century, and, most importantly, ensuring they are spending their days in safe and healthy buildings.
America's Building Trades Unions urge Congress to approve this measure in an expedited fashion."
The Building and Construction Trades Department is an alliance of 13 national and international unions that collectively represent over 2 million skilled craft professionals in the United States and Canada.
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SOURCE Building and Construction Trades Department
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