Jonathan Tower

Resilient Infrastructure: Adapting to Turbulent Times

Margot Brandenburg, Debbie Dingell, Katherine Perez, Jonathan Tower, Phillip Washington, Nan Whaley

Panelists including Rep. Debbie Dingell, L.A. Metro CEO Phil Washington, and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley addressed the $2 trillion infrastructure gap by proposing a shift from competitive grants to formula-based funding and federal loan guarantees to ensure equitable resource distribution. The discussion highlighted specific strategies such as transit fare elimination, broadband expansion, and a blue-green labor-environmental alliance to address structural inequities and workforce bottlenecks while overcoming current legislative gridlock. Despite the House passing the "Moving Forward Act" with a $20 billion Clean Energy Accelerator, these initiatives remain stalled due to political fragmentation, necessitating immediate federal action to fund critical public services.