Press Release

Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. has again sponsored the Partnership to Build America Act, bipartisan legislation to rebuild America's infrastructure in a fiscally-responsible way. Bera was an original sponsor of similar legislation in the last Congress.

Currently, transportation infrastructure projects like fixes to roads and bridges are funded by the Highway Trust Fund, which is sustained by a tax on gasoline. Some have suggested raising that tax as gasoline tax receipts have declined. Bera has repeatedly been against this because it unfairly hurts middle class families and small businesses, and puts a strain on our economy.

"Middle class families can't afford a tax on taking their kids to school or to go to the grocery store" said Bera. "The Partnership to Build America is a common sense, bipartisan alternative that helps solve our infrastructure problem WITHOUT using any taxpayer money or increasing our country's debt, while also creating jobs right here at home. Improving our outdated infrastructure is an area where many Republicans and Democrats agree. In our region alone, millions of trips every single day are made over structurally deficient bridges and the state of our levees is extremely serious. It's time to get this done, and the Partnership to Build America is the right solution."

The bill creates a $50 billion dollar infrastructure reserve that is funded by selling bonds to private companies. U.S. corporations would be incentivized to bring home billions of dollars of money earned abroad if they invest in these infrastructure bonds. If passed, it would create significant American jobs in the short-term and help U.S. competitiveness in the long-term.

America's infrastructure received a D+ grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2013 based on physical condition and needed investments for improvement.

Congressman John K. Delaney (D-MD) and Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Partnership to Build America on Tuesday. There are 14 Republican co-sponsors, and 16 Democrats. They include: Andy Barr (R-KY), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), John Carney (D-DE), Lacy Clay (D-MO), Tom Cole (R-OK), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Robert Dold (R-IL), Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Denny Heck (D-WA), Joseph Heck (R-NV), Steve Israel (D-NY), David Jolly (R-FL), David Joyce (R-OH), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Ann Kuster (D-NH), David Loebsack (D-IA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Thomas MacArthur (R-NJ), Sean Maloney (D-NY), Luke Messer (R-IN), Patrick Murphy (D-FL), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Scott Peters (D-CA), Robert Pittenger (R-NC), Jared Polis (D-CO), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Ed Whitfield (R-KY).

Partnership to Build America Act Benefits:

• Creates a new large-scale infrastructure solution with zero appropriations.
• New infrastructure projects will create significant middle-class jobs in the short-term and make the national economy more competitive in the long-term.
• Allows for profits held overseas to be brought back to the United States, encouraging domestic investment and economic growth.
• Encourages and creates a framework for growth in public-private partnerships

Bera has represented Sacramento County in Congress since 2013. Born and raised in California, Bera is a physician and the only Indian American currently serving in Congress. He's fighting to rebuild an economy that works for middle class families and to reduce our country's debt in a responsible way. One of Bera's first acts in Congress was to help lead the effort to pass the No Budget No Pay Act, which says if members of Congress don't pass a budget, they don't get paid. As a leader of the No Labels' Problem Solvers, he's working with people from both parties to find bipartisan solutions to our nation's challenges. He and his wife Janine live in Elk Grove with their daughter Sydra. For more updates on Bera follow @RepBera on Twitter, like Congressman Bera on Facebook, or visit https://www.bera.house.gov.