“There is no greater economic engine in the world than the hard work and ingenuity of the American people.” This quote comes from an article by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) published earlier this week. In conversation with US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, AEM President Dennis Slater spoke to the importance of investment into infrastructure for improving the post-COVID-19 economy, reducing unemployment, and, specifically, supporting equipment manufacturers.
According to Secretary Buttigieg, the American Jobs Plan will provide the biggest investment in jobs since the 1940s. Interestingly, the majority of these jobs do not require a college degree. The Plan is intended to address infrastructure needs including the rebuilding of roads and bridges, improving availability of clean drinking water, upgrading airports, and providing high-speed broadband across the US. The need to make a significant investment to transform US infrastructure has never been more urgent.
AEM CE Sector Board Chair Rod Schrader also contributed to the conversation, drawing attention to industry efforts towards reducing emissions “through the development of alternative power generation technologies for construction equipment.” Schrader mentioned that the industry intends to work closely with the Biden administration “to ensure that its 2030 strategy takes into consideration market conditions, supply and demand, and other considerations.”
Everybody in the US benefits from our country’s infrastructure. However, Buttigieg remarks that, frequently, our infrastructure receives attention only when there is a catastrophic failure. Investing in infrastructure improvements now ensures that the coming generations will be able to enjoy a thriving future. “Equipment manufacturers will create that infrastructure,” he said. “You will literally build back better. We cannot build back better without the building part. And that is where equipment manufacturers come in.”
