Washington, D.C. —- Congressman G. K. Butterfield wants North Carolina to focus investment on the poorest and neediest communities should the federal government make good on the promise of sending hundreds of billions of dollars to states for infrastructure projects,
“I represent 17 of the state’s 40 poorest counties, and they were hurting long before the current economic downturn,” Butterfield said. “Without sufficient infrastructure, these communities will continue to struggle and fall further behind.”
Butterfield wrote to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue to urge the state to use this opportunity to focus on providing assistance to counties with the greatest needs. Last month during the congressional recess, Butterfield said he organized a series of meetings with county and local officials who “consistently expressed a desperate need for help in strengthening and building local infrastructure.”
Butterfield said that five counties in his district are suffering double-digit unemployment, including Edgecombe County, which has the state’s highest unemployment rate at 13.3 percent. And, of the 23 eastern North Carolina counties Butterfield represents, only four — Craven, Gates, Herford and Wayne counties — have unemployment rates lower than the statewide average of 7.8 percent.
Butterfield said that local and county officials expressed the need for road and bridge improvements, airport development, water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, school improvements and blight removal.
“Infrastructure growth is critical not only to these communities’ quality of life, but also to their ability to attract and retain businesses,” Butterfield said. “Without significant help, the cost of these projects are well beyond the means of these communities.”
Butterfield said he strongly supports the concept of a federal economic stimulus that would quickly provide funding for new, “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects. Congress and President-elect Barack Obama have been working on a multi-billion dollar package that could include funding for infrastructure, government-assisted healthcare insurance and unemployment compensation. Tax cuts for workers and businesses could also be included. Congressional leaders have expressed hope that a package could be ready to be signed into law by mid-February.
Here is the text of the letter sent from Butterfield to Purdue:
The Honorable Beverly Perdue
Governor-elect
State of North Carolina
20401 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0401
Dear Governor-elect Perdue:
As you know, Congress is working to draft an economic stimulus package aimed at helping hardworking Americans who are losing their jobs, businesses, retirement savings, homes and healthcare. While the particulars of the legislative package continue to change, it is clear that a great deal of resources will be directed through the states to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure.
I strongly support appropriating federal funds through the states to fund infrastructure projects. State and local governments seem best equipped to determine appropriate projects to fund. As the state considers its needs, I would respectfully urge you to use this opportunity to focus on granting assistance to projects in counties in the most need, Tier I counties.
Seventeen of the state’s 40 Tier I counties are part of the First Congressional District, including Edgecombe County, which has the state’s highest unemployment rate at 13.3 percent. During a recent series of meetings I organized, local and county officials from these communities consistently expressed a desperate need for help in strengthening and building local infrastructure such as roads, blight removal, airport development, wastewater treatment facilities and schools. Infrastructure growth is critical not only to these communities’ quality of life, but also to their ability to attract and retain businesses. Without sufficient infrastructure, these communities will continue to struggle and fall further behind.
I look forward to working with you to ensure that North Carolina receives every available federal dollar that could be used to strengthen and build our state.
Thank you very much.