During a presentation of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ infrastructure report card, which gave the U.S. an overall C- for the condition of its roads, bridges, ports, drinking water systems and electricity grids and identified a $2.59 trillion spending gap, Buttigieg said it was time to get to work rebuilding the country. Echoing President Joe Biden’s sentiment that infrastructure isn’t a “red versus blue state issue,” Buttigieg made the case that now was “maybe a once-in-a-lifetime moment to invest.” “Interest rates are at historic lows. Underemployment and unemployment are higher than they should be,” Buttigieg said. “There’s never been a better reason for politicians, regardless of party, regardless of ideology, to want to get this done.” Buttigieg’s comments closed ASCE’s full-day conference where the organization announced, for the first time in 20 years, that the nation’s infrastructure had received an overall grade higher than a D, but just barely. ASCE’s C- grade for the country overall highlighted the $2.59 trillion funding gap in America’s infrastructure spending, a figure that has grown by a rate of $259 billion per year over the last decade.
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