With 25 million Americans out of work, President Barack Obama on Wednesday requested the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Interior and Transportation to identify high impact, job-creating infrastructure projects that can be expedited through outstanding review and permitting processes.
Each department will select up to three high priority infrastructure projects that will create a significant number of jobs, have already identified funding and here the significant steps remaining before construction – including permit decisions, reviews, and consultations – are within the control and jurisdiction of the federal government and can be completed within 18 months.
Obama said, the announcement today is a common-sense step to speed job creation in the near term, while increasing competitiveness and strengthening the economy in the long term.
“Creating jobs is my highest priority as President, and investing in our nation’s infrastructure can help create those jobs and grow our economy,” Mr. Obama said. “That’s why I’m asking agencies across the federal government to identify infrastructure projects that will put folks back to work and help make our country stronger, and take immediate steps to push these projects across the finish line.”
