Costa Visits Fresno PPE Maker, Talks Trillion Dollar Infrastructure Bill
Jim Jakobs - GV Wire
To see local CARES act funding at work, Congressman Jim Costa toured a Fresno business that switched out operations due to the pandemic.
Total Concept Enterprises in southeast Fresno switched from manufacturing fasteners and metal fabrications to developing plastic safety partitions.
"Let's support the home team," said Costa, a Fresno Democrat. "We've learned that we are over reliant on a supply chain that involves the most important aspects of our lives: health and safety from foreign sources."
The CARES Act, the third coronavirus relief package signed into law, sent $2 trillion dollars in relief to critical industries, small business owners, and American families. Total Concept Enterprises used some of that money to change direction and provide workplace safety materials to combat the pandemic.
$1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Forthcoming
GV Wire℠ asked Costa about a possible infrastructure bill coming out of Congress.
Related Story: Trump Is Reportedly Considering a New $1 Trillion Infrastructure Stimulus Plan ...
"In many ways prior to this pandemic, we were living on the investments our parents and grandparents made a generation ago," said Costa. "We're talking about transportation. We're talking about water. We're talking about schools.
Costa says the American Society of Civil Engineers believes the real price tag to get our infrastructure caught up is between $2 trillion and $3 trillion.
"We are going to be introducing legislation next week — a Democratic House proposal — that will be about $1.5 trillion. Maybe a little more or less," said Costa. "I've been trying to get a medical school here (in the Valley) for years. A medical school would make a big difference."
Buying Local PPE
California's Manufacturing Network advocates for local businesses. CMTC strongly urges people and businesses to try to buy products from local companies.
"All businesses, government agencies, churches, nonprofits, and schools need to buy PPE," said CMTC's Craig Scharton. "If they purchase their PPE from local manufacturers, they'll help to keep business running, employees working, and our public services funded."
CMTC provided a list of Central Valley companies making PPE: