Pennsylvania HR 173: A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to establish the National Infrastructure Bank.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1245
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 173
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, NEILSON, PASHINSKI, DALEY, PROBST,
ISAACSON, MADDEN, GIRAL, HADDOCK, WAXMAN, MERSKI, MAYES,
CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HILL-EVANS, KHAN, SANCHEZ, HOHENSTEIN,
RIVERA, MALAGARI AND O'MARA, APRIL 3, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, APRIL 3, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to establish the
National Infrastructure Bank.
WHEREAS, In 2025, the American Society of Civil Engineers
(ASCE) reported a grade of C for the current state of
infrastructure in the United States, and ASCE estimated more
than $9 trillion is needed to bring the nation's infrastructure
to a state of good repair; and
WHEREAS, The ASCE also estimated a gap of $3.7 trillion in
nationwide infrastructure investments based on current funding
levels; and
WHEREAS, The 2022 ASCE report card grades this Commonwealth
at a C- in 15 categories of basic infrastructure, including the
following assessments:
(1) over the next 10 years, this Commonwealth's public
water systems, which currently continue to contain
substantial amounts of lead service lines as well as per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances, are projected to have a $10.2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

billion funding gap, not including funding from recent
Federal programs;
(2) this Commonwealth has the ninth largest bridge
inventory, including the second highest number of poor
condition bridges, in the nation, which will require a
minimum of $18 billion annually to maintain;
(3) the Commonwealth has a funding gap of $8.4 billion
over the next 10 years that is needed to repair existing
wastewater systems and upgrade current systems to meet
regulatory requirements;
(4) $2 billion in storm water assets have reached the
end of their useful life and the State has a need for $6.7
billion for storm water projects over the next three to five
years;
(5) transit funding shortfalls include $4.6 billion for
the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority capital needs
and $175 million for capital improvements at the Port
Authority of Allegheny County, and other systems require
additional funding; and
(6) this Commonwealth has a shortage of at least 267,000
available and affordable homes for extremely low-income
renters;
and
WHEREAS, The National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) will assist
in financing infrastructure throughout this Commonwealth,
working in partnership with the State and local governments,
both rural and urban; and
WHEREAS, The NIB is modeled on previous banks that assisted
in building much of our infrastructure under Presidents George
Washington, John Quincy Adams, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D.
20250HR0173PN1245 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

Roosevelt, which helped spur massive economic growth; and
WHEREAS, The last Federal bank with the similar objective of
funding infrastructure in the United States helped bring the
country out of the Great Depression and achieve our victory in
World War II; and
WHEREAS, The proposed $5 trillion bank would have
authorization to invest only in infrastructure projects, be
capitalized by existing Treasury debt and require no new Federal
spending or the imposition of new taxes; and
WHEREAS, The NIB would create an estimated 25 million new
jobs, pay prevailing wages and include "Buy America" provisions
and award a significant number of contracts to disadvantaged
business enterprises; and
WHEREAS, As its predecessors did, and according to experts,
the NIB is projected to grow the Federal economy by 5% per year;
and
WHEREAS, Thirty state legislatures have introduced or passed
resolutions of support, as have county and city councils; and
WHEREAS, National endorsements of the NIB include the:
(1) National Black Caucus of State Legislators;
(2) National Asian-Pacific American Caucus of State
Legislators;
(3) Council of State Governments-East Region;
(4) National Association of Development Organizations -
all 541 Regional Planning Commissions;
(5) National Association of Counties; and
(6) United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters;
and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania endorsements of the NIB include:
(1) The City of Pittsburgh;
20250HR0173PN1245 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

(2) The City of Philadelphia;
(3) The City of Allentown;
(4) The City of Lancaster;
(5) Northampton County;
(6) Allegheny County; and
(7) The Northern Tier Central Labor Council;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to establish the National Infrastructure Bank; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, the presiding officers of
each house of Congress and each member of Congress from
Pennsylvania.
20250HR0173PN1245 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15