Boyle Fights for Pennsylvania Workers and Jobs in Infrastructure Package
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July 1, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), co-chair of the Congressional Blue-Collar Caucus, successfully secured provisions to benefit workers in the Moving Forward Act (H.R. 2), a large scale infrastructure package that passed in the House of Representatives today. Most notably, his bill (H.R.5165 – Innovative Energy Manufacturing Act) to facilitate domestic job creations was included in the package.
"Our nation's infrastructure has long been in desperate need of repair," said Congressman Boyle. "This package is a critical step in addressing the ongoing infrastructure crisis and I'm thrilled to see that my bill is included in this comprehensive plan to invest in our communities and promote hundreds of jobs for working families. Not only will we improve safety and mobility for all Americans, but we will create new jobs, rebuild schools, protect access to safe drinking water, upgrade our hospitals, and much more. As we make bold investments in our infrastructure, we must do so in a sustainable way that invests and prioritizes our workers for generations to come."
Specifically, Congressman Boyle actively fought to include the following provisions for Philadelphia.
- New Jobs: Congressman Boyle's bill, H.R. 5165, revives the Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit (Section 48C), a program that invests in U.S. manufacturing capacity to supply clean energy projects with American-made equipment. The provision included in H.R. 2 authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to allocate an additional $2.5 billion in credits for each year from 2021 through and including 2025.
- Labor Friendly Clean Energy Sector: Congressman Boyle advocated for labor standards to be applied to energy jobs by fighting for a provision to include additional tax benefits for certain renewable energy and efficiency projects and activities that adopt high-road labor practices, and pay prevailing wages consistent with Davis-Bacon requirements for similar federal jobs.
- Explicit Protections for Amtrak Call Center Workers: Congressman Boyle staunchly fought on behalf of Philadelphia Call Center employees. This Amtrak call center in Northeast Philadelphia is the last Amtrak call center supported by union labor and operating specifically for Amtrak. Congressman Boyle secured language in H.R. 2 that creates job security, and explicitly prevents Amtrak from outsourcing these jobs.
- Funding to Help Rebuild America's Schools: Congressman Boyle has been a leader in fighting for federal funding to rebuild America's school facilities, including seven Philadelphia schools that were forced to close due to dangerous asbestos levels and exposure. Philadelphia schools will benefit from the $140 billion dedicated to school building reconstruction and remediation included in H.R. 2.
- PFAS Clean Up Assistance: Congressman Boyle continued his advocacy for PFAS remediation in H.R. 2. The package includes over $25 billion in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and other programs to ensure all communities have clean drinking water.
- Investments in Roads, Rail, and Bridges: Congressman Boyle ensured that Pennsylvania will receive more funding for its roads, highways, bridges, and rail transit through H.R. 2. The bill invests $11.83 billion over five years to the federal-aid highway program in Pennsylvania and nearly $3.4 billion over five years to the Federal Transit Administration aid. The legislation also includes high speed rail projects under PRIME grants, opening up a new avenue of funding for these projects that will bolster's Philadelphia's role as a hub in the northeast corridor.
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