ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The Equipment Dealers Assn. announces its participation in the annual national advocacy and educational event, Infrastructure Week, which is taking place from May 13-20, 2019. Across the country, EDA dealers as well as coalition and industry partners will come together to spread the message that we must #BuildForTomorrow. Investing in infrastructure is consistently one of the issues that has the strongest bi-partisan support from voters, with more supporters wanting action from government on infrastructure than almost any other issue. EDA has been lobbying consistently on behalf of equipment dealers for rural infrastructure investment, specifically rural broadband and key trade efficiency updates such as improvements for locks, dams and bridges need to bring U.S. products to market in a competitive manner.

When it comes to agreeing on a national vision for infrastructure, and a plan to pay for it, we have a long way to go. Regional projects with implications for the national economy aren’t getting the funding they need. And state and local projects that depend, even partly, on federal funding, loans, permitting, and new regulatory action, aren’t breaking ground. False starts, delayed starts, deferred maintenance, and inadequate levels of investment are putting our infrastructure, our health and safety, and our economy at risk. Cities, counties, states and the private sector are working hard, but need a strong, reliable federal partner to get the job done.

Now in its seventh year, led by a coalition of labor, business, and policy organizations, and joined by hundreds of affiliates nationwide, Infrastructure Week is uniting everyone to send one message to leaders in Washington and beyond: Let’s #BuildForTomorrow.

“Significant, long-term improvements to our nation’s infrastructure are critical in order to bring American goods to market in a competitive manner,” says Natalie Higgins, EDA’s VP of Government Relations. “A deteriorating rural infrastructure threatens the competitive leadership of American agriculture.”

“We are thrilled that EDA is joining Infrastructure Week. The state of America’s infrastructure is one of the most pressing issues facing us as a nation. The benefits of a stronger, better infrastructure system could be immense, but we urgently need political courage and leadership on this issue,” said Zach Schafer, Executive Director of Infrastructure Week. “During Infrastructure Week, we bring together the public and private sector to encourage lawmakers to think long-term, and invest in infrastructure at the federal, state and local level.”