Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) announced today they are forming a bi-partisan Congressional caucus focused on the nation’s infrastructure and the growing use of public-private partnerships in building and maintaining it. 

Known as the Congressional Caucus on Public-Private Partnerships (P3s), or simply the Congressional P3 Caucus, Rogers says he hopes the group will help raise awareness of infrastructure issues and examine public-private partnerships across the country. He says the nation faces a “severe crisis” in infrastructure funding, and keeping these systems up to date in times of tight budgets is critical for growing our economy and creating new jobs for future generations.

“Solid infrastructure is a key driver of good jobs and a growing, competitive economy,” Rogers said. “We have an enormous backlog of infrastructure needs all across our country, but the Federal government simply can’t fund them all. Nor should Congress raise taxes. Building and maintaining infrastructure is an issue for both rural and urban areas, and I hope this caucus will help advance the debate in Washington and across the country.”

Rogers is a member of the Armed Services, Agriculture and Homeland Security committees and a former state legislator and county commissioner.

Rogers says he has seen examples of government partnering with the private sector at military installations in his district.  As a former local official, he also says he deeply sympathizes with the pressing needs of state and local officials struggling to maintain, much less build, new infrastructure in times of shrinking Federal budgets. He says the caucus will focus on all types of infrastructure, including defense, energy, technology, transportation and water, among others.

Rogers and Connolly say they will seek out other Members of Congress to join the Caucus, as well as involve public and private sector stakeholders. 

                                                                                                              -###-