August 4, 2007 (LPAC)--The nation's trillions-dollar infrastructure deficit, a result of 30 years of neglect and failed policy, came rushing to the fore as the Minneapolis, Mn. Interstate 35W bridge came crashing down Wednesday August 1st. In response, on Friday Aug. 3, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill to quickly create a Commission to examine all aspect of the nation's hard infrastructure, i.e. roads, bridges, freight and passenger rail, water supply systems etc.

Two days before this vote, the day of the bridge disaster, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Ca.) chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee asserted when the bill, S. 775, passed the committee, "It should not take a tragedy like the one in Minnesota to remind us that the safety of our bridges, highways, and other infrastructure are matters of life and death. I call on my colleagues in the Senate to pass ... [this bill] without delay..." Boxer's statement contrasts to the callous quips by President Bush that he'd pray for the loss of loved ones while insisting Congress is spending too much on just such matters. Boxer asked the Senate to pass this bill so "we can prevent tragedies like this from happening in the future."

S. 755, the "National Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2007," would create within 90 days of enactment a Commission to study all aspects of the nation's infrastructure to include maintenance schedules, repair or replacement needs and costs and even evaluate new technologies to bring to bear in construction. It is to assess the condition of the various parts of hard infrastructure, evaluate what is required to meet current and future demands and how these components facilitate economic growth. By February 15, 2009 it is to complete a study/survey of on the state of infrastructure in the U.S., including age and condition of public infrastructure, methods of finance, and investment requirements for the next 5, 15, 30 and 50 years. A full report would be due one year later.

The bill next goes to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration. A similar Commission already exists but only for surface transportation, so the Senate Commission would broaden the scope of inquiry. Both Commissions are to propose financing mechanisms to meet the nation's infrastructure needs. The magnitude of construction required can only be financed by a capital budget approach as Lyndon LaRouche has put forward.