Supporting Infrastructure Workers Through Legislative Action

The Laborers’ International Union of North America, abbreviated as LIUNA, represents over 540,000 skilled workers. These individuals are integral to constructing highways, bridges, and schools across the United States and Canada. LIUNA also contributes to powering the nation through wind, solar, nuclear, hydropower, and pipelines. Unfortunately, their efforts often face political obstacles that delay or cancel essential projects.

Outdated permitting laws have been a significant barrier, blocking critical projects for years. For instance, the SunZia wind and transmission project awaited approval for 17 years, whereas the Atlantic Coast Pipeline faced a six-year stall before ultimately being canceled in 2020. These cases illustrate the challenges of current permitting processes, where approvals can take years only to be revoked swiftly.

Such delays affect LIUNA members directly. Construction workers earn hourly wages, and their benefits are similarly dependent. When projects come to a halt, workers face financial instability, impacting their families as well. The union backs Sen. Martin Heinrich’s Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act to address these issues.

This proposed legislation seeks to implement deadlines for court challenges and streamline environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act. Additionally, it aims to provide certainty for LIUNA members, safeguarding union jobs, prevailing wages, apprenticeships, and community protections, while also lowering energy costs.

For over a decade, LIUNA has voiced support for various permitting bills, often to witness them fail as sessions conclude. The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act presents a strong opportunity to provide stability for hardworking LIUNA members. Passing this bill is essential to support both workers and infrastructure development across the nation.

Brent Booker, general president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, champions this legislative effort to ensure reliability and progress in infrastructure projects. The passage of the Act would mark a significant step toward minimizing disruptions affecting construction workers and their families.