Washington, D.C. - Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) president Dennis Slater issued the following statement on today’s meeting between President Trump and Democratic leadership on infrastructure.

“By passing a comprehensive infrastructure bill in 2019, Republicans and Democrats have an opportunity to create jobs and keep our nation strong,” said Dennis Slater, president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). “Today’s meeting is a new opportunity to work across the aisle on a legislative solution that works for all Americans. One of the fundamental responsibilities of the federal government is to provide a safe and well-maintained infrastructure to allow for the transportation of goods and services that keep our nation strong. We believe there are several viable solutions on the table that can provide a long-term funding solution for the Highway Trust Fund, but a renegotiation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is not one of them. Tax reform works and it’s helped boost our economy, benefiting millions of American workers. By kicking the can further down the road, our country risks losing tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity if Republicans and Democrats don’t work together. Now is the time for bipartisan leadership.”

AEM supports Republican and Democratic leaders providing a long-term and sustainable funding mechanism for the Highway Trust Fund, solutions that connect urban and rural America, delivering projects in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner, providing job training programs for the workforce, and maximizing the use of smart technology. That’s why AEM has consistently advocated for comprehensive legislation to fix and modernize our nation’s infrastructure by holding town halls, panel discussions, and running nation-wide public affairs campaigns.