America ranks 13th globally when it comes to infrastructure, yet we are the wealthiest nation in the world - there’s no excuse for that. We need to continue to improve and modernize our infrastructure in order to combat catastrophic failures, like what we witnessed with the Texas power grid. That is why the USHBC was very supportive of the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Now that the act has been signed into law, the government will administer contracts for a variety of infrastructure projects. 30% of Hispanics are employed in infrastructure and its related industries, including energy, construction, manufacturing and transportation. However, according to a department of labor study, only 5% of the companies bidding on these contracts are Hispanic-owned. We need to improve Hispanic access to contracting so that all communities can benefit from investments in our nation's infrastructure.

Fast Facts (Updated Jan. 2023):

• According to Brookings, America only spends 2% of our GDP on infrastructure, compared to Europe and China spending 5% and 8% respectively.

• By 2025, American Infrastructure is forecasted to be $2 trillion short of funding requirements to meet basic needs.

• Hispanic business ownership has grown by 32% in construction, and 25% in the warehouse and transportation industries.