United for Infrastructure Event on Tap

United for Infrastructure’s 2020 event (formerly known as Infrastructure Week) takes place Sept. 14-21, bringing together government officials, community organizers, business leaders and other stakeholders to discuss issues and create solutions to keep America’s infrastructure going strong for future generations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented strain on America’s citizens, health care system, and economy. As it has forced dramatic changes to how we live, work, learn, shop and stay safe and healthy, it has had untold impacts on infrastructure systems. 

Evolving use and demand patterns for transportation, water, electricity, and the internet have uncovered both hidden strengths and critical failure points. In many cases it has exacerbated infrastructure deficiencies that pre-date the current crisis. And the downturn in revenues from all sources threatens to cause even more economic hardship by cutting work from a sector of the economy that weathered the early days of the pandemic in relative safety and provided a critical source of jobs and income to millions of American families. 

Moving forward, we have an urgent need, but also an opportunity, to take stock of and recalibrate our infrastructure priorities to meet the needs of the moment and emerge stronger into a post-COVID America.

“Americans deserve infrastructure that keeps them safe, creates jobs, eliminates barriers to equality and opportunity, and fuels a strong and vibrant economy,” the group stated. “Our nation’s roads and rails, airports and seaports, drinking and wastewater systems, inland waterways and broadband internet and so many more systems are essential to these goals. Through strategic events and knowledge sharing, we work with leaders and citizens around America to highlight the state of our nation’s infrastructure and the projects, policies, and ideas critical to ensuring every American family, worker, business and community is competitive, prosperous, and safe.”

This year’s virtual event, built around the moniker “Rebuild Better,” features Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Donohue, International Union of Operating Engineers President James Callahan, and many more.

Speakers include:

  • Larry Hogan – Governor of Maryland and immediate past chair, National Governors Association.
  • Eric Garcetti – Mayor of Los Angeles.
  • Andy Berke – Mayor of Chattanooga, Tenn.
  • Thomas J. Donohue – CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
  • James Callahan – General president, International Union of Operating Engineers.
  • Brendan Bechtel – Chairman and CEO, Bechtel and chair, Business Roundtable Infrastructure Committee.
  • Lewis Cornell – CEO, WSP USA.
  • Roger Millar – Secretary of Transportation, Washington State Department of Transportation and board member, American Society of Civil Engineers.
  • Leslie Richards – General manager, Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA).
  • Barbara Humpton – President and CEO, Siemens USA.
  • Randi Weingarten – President, American Federation of Teachers.
  • Steve Morriss – President, Americas, AECOM.
  • Kimberly Slaughter – SVP and senior national transit practice consultant, HNTB and chair, APTA COVID-19 Leadership Taskforce.

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