A national survey shows 83 percent of Democrats and 84 percent of Republicans say the top priority for federal policy makers should be repairing roads, bridges and water systems using American workers and American goods and materials.
The need to fix the nation's crumbling infrastructure ranked as high as addressing climate change and providing Medicare for all among Democrats and as high as tightening border security and enforcing immigration among Republicans.
The poll of 1,200 likely 2020 voters was conducted for the Alliance for American Manufacturers, a non-profit, non-partisan partnership founded by American manufacturers and the United Steelworkers in 2007. The results were released April 10 along with plans to tell President Donald Trump and Congress to get to work so Americans can, too.
"There are only a handful of issues that could cause Republican and Democratic voters to stand up and cheer in unison. Rebuilding America with our own manufacturing, creating jobs and boosting our economy is one of them," Scott Paul, president of the Washington-based alliance, said in a conference call about the poll.
The poll was conducted March 20-28 by The Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies. The findings also indicate 84 percent of voters think outdated bridges and corroded water pipes are unsafe, while 74 percent say waiting to make the repairs increases the costs and safety risks.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said she will reintroduce legislation that requires that all construction materials used on public infrastructure products be made in America. Taxpayer money shouldn't be spent to support foreign workers or foreign components, she said, pointing to the public opinion research as a clear message.
"I'm hopeful that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Congress will agree with the American people and join me in this effort to make sure our government is buying American products and supporting American workers," Baldwin said.