From South Philadelphia, A Call For US Infrastructure Investment
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A national survey of more than 400 manufacturers shows there is concern with US infrastructures and a belief that it's hurting the competitive demands of a growing economy.
"Our outdated infrastructure is rated with a D+ grade," said National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) president and CEO Jay Timmons, with the Port of Philadelphia as a backdrop.
He was joined by former governor Ed Rendell, co-chair of Building America's Future, to talk about the findings of the survey, which indicates the majority of manufacturers are concerned with the condition of US roads and bridges, transit, aviation systems, and ports.
Rendell said leaders in Washington, DC need to make significant investments for the country to stay competitive in a global market:
"Think about it: with the Panama Canal deepening, there will be mega-tankers coming in through the canal and up the Atlantic. And of the 15 major ports on the east coast, only two -- one in Virginia and one in Baltimore, Maryland -- are equipped to handle the mega-tankers that will be coming through."
He says America will lose business and jobs to better equipped Canadian ports if improvements are not made.
