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Infrastructure Needs Investments Now
BY JOHN HOLLAY, SENIOR DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND PUBLIC POLICY, UNITED FRESH PRODUCE ASSOCIATION
There are many policy differences between Congressional Republi- cans, Democrats and the Trump administration. One issue that seems to stand out as having
the potential to bring both parties together is the need for a commitment to revitaliz- ing our transportation and infrastructure systems.
Democrats and Republicans both recog- nize the need to invest in the infrastruc- ture that is vital to any thriving modern economy. Industry — be it in the agri- culture sphere or in general commerce — also recognizes the need for reform immediately.
For too long, we have ignored the fact that we must rebuild our aging transpor- tation systems, including roads, bridges, rail and ports. This failure to act by previous Congresses and Administrations has left our nation with a 20th Century infrastruc-
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ture system that must meet the demands of a 21st Century economy.
United Fresh is keenly aware of the impact this has had on the produce sector and has been hard at work trying to help develop the policy solutions with allies across the business sector to our current and future challenges. The transporta- tion of perishable products cannot wait for the potholes on our highways to be fixed, or the antiquated port operations that we rely on to be addressed tomorrow ... they need to be addressed today. This is vitally important not only for domesti- cally produced products finding their way to grocery stores and restaurants in the United States, but also for those that find their way to other countries while they are still viable for consumption.
As always, the question in Washington, DC is: how do you pay for what will cost potentially hundreds of billions in dollars
on top of what we are already spending to upgrade our entire transportation and infrastructure system? Although we in the produce industry strongly agree with the bipartisan calls for reform, the question of how to fund these efforts remains very much up in the air. Different ideas have been suggested, including increased taxes on gasoline as well as cuts to other large, important segments of the federal govern- ment. These are tough choices that must be made by renewing the bipartisan support for reform espoused by Republicans and Democrats alike over the last two years.
One thing is certain, time is of the essence. Our nation needs these invest- ments in infrastructure in order be compet- itive in a modern world. If we do not act now, the cost of not acting will continue to rise and leave us with greater challenges down the road — one that, for now, is full of too many potholes.