National Urban League Urges Congress to Pass a Reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Bill
Infrastructure Investment: Rail Safety and Jobs
Opening ReMARCs
By Marc Morial
In the wake of Tuesday night’s tragic Amtrak derailment that left at least eight people dead and hundreds more injured, our prayers go out to the victims and their families.
We at the National Urban League have called for a surface transportation bill, not only for the safety of travelers, but for the nation’s economic future.
As part of the National Urban League’s 12-Point Plan for putting Urban America Back to Work, we urge Congress to pass a reauthorization of the surface transportation bill that:
- Guarantees jobs for low and moderate income households in communities near the projects.
- Incentivizes workforce training for underserved communities to secure these jobs.
- Provides small minority business access to contracts and subcontracts.
Investments in our nation’s infrastructure should be one of the government’s top priorities, as Tuesday’s tragedy sadly demonstrates.
