With the nation's crumbling infrastructure having grabbed headlines lately, two U.S. senators are supported the concept of a national infrastructure bank to evaluate and finance major public works.
"Roads, bridges, mass transit and other aging U.S. infrastructure would get a face-lift under legislation introduced in Congress on Wednesday that would create a system to identify, evaluate and help finance projects.
Citing high-profile infrastructure meltdowns, such as last month's steam pipe explosion in Manhattan, bill sponsors U.S. Senators Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, and Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican, said it was time to upgrade for the 21st-century economy.
"The legislation we are introducing establishes a new system through which the federal government can finance infrastructure projects by leveraging private and public capital to fund large projects that are vital to our country," Hagel said in a statement.
The legislation would create a national infrastructure bank charged with evaluating and financing publicly owned mass transit, housing, roads, bridges, and water systems that would entail potential federal funding of at least $75 million per project."
FULL STORY: US Congress eyes fix for crumbling infrastructure
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