WHAT: IDEA FORUM: Why America Needs a National Infrastructure Bank
WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2009
DETAILS: From the construction of the Hoover Dam, the birth of the federal interstate highway system and Neil Armstrong’s historic walk on the moon—many of the greatest milestones of American achievement have been intimately linked with strategic public investments in infrastructure. But the last era of significant national investment ended more than 40 years ago, and it is time again for a new national strategy for infrastructure investment that can stimulate the economy, re-imagine our approach to energy, create jobs and ensure US national and homeland security. Third Way and Building America’s Future held a discussion on “A Bank That Won’t Need a Bailout: Why America Needs a National Infrastructure Bank.” Speakers included Governor Edward Rendell (D-PA), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Bernard L. Schwartz, Chairman and CEO of BLS Investments, Beth Osborne, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Transportation Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation, Stanton Hazelroth, Executive Director of the California Infrastructure Bank, and David Seltzer of Mercator Advisors. The discussion was moderated by Lisa Caruso of The National Journal.
ABOUT BUILDING AMERICA’S FUTURE: Building America’s Future (BAF) is a bipartisan coalition of elected officials dedicated to bringing about a new era of U.S. investment in infrastructure that enhances our nation’s prosperity and quality of life.