Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said infrastructure investment is what the U.S. economy needs to battle the economic impact of the coronavirus.
Cramer made his remarks in a column posted Tuesday by Fox News.
"Our rocket-ship economy is strong, but the coronavirus outbreak threatens to derail some of this momentum," he wrote. "Stocks have fallen significantly over the last month, and the profits of industries which rely on tourism and travel — roughly 7 percent of our gross domestic product — are falling.
"What our economy needs to weather this storm is not merely a blank check stimulus, but policies that invest in long-term growth. While we work toward that goal, temporary measures to stimulate our economy and assist those most impacted are sure to be necessary."
Cramer maintained the U.S. could learn a lesson from his state of North Dakota.
"We are an energy state that has become accustomed to the boom and bust cycles of the industry," he said. "During the bust, North Dakota took that opportunity to invest in our infrastructure so we would be better prepared for the next boom."
And he noted the nation's largest highway bill is awaiting action by Congress.
"Our bill authorizes $287 billion over five years, including $259 billion for programs to maintain and repair America's roads and bridges," Cramer noted.
He said the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is developing further infrastructure legislation.
"During this temporary coronavirus bust, Congress must work overtime to send an infrastructure package to President [Donald] Trump," he said. "Every American would reap the benefit of passing this bill."
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.