Following the Kemp Bottom Road bridge collapse in Vicksburg, residents, businesses and local officials are now forced to clean up the mess because our leaders in Washington continue to forsake their responsibility to invest in the nation’s infrastructure in a long-term, sustainable manner.

A strong federal role in partnership with state and local entities is a necessary component to building and maintaining the United States’ infrastructure system. Every day there are numerous examples of structurally deficient bridges, dams and levees and inadequate roads, airports and pipes. Time is wasted in traffic or sitting on an overcrowded runway. Clean water is squandered and roads flooded as water mains break. Lives are put at risk due to crumbling bridges and dams.

Our infrastructure is the lifeblood of our economy. It impacts our quality of life, the competitiveness of our businesses, and the safety and security of our country. Mississippians and the rest of the country deserve world-class infrastructure and further delay is unacceptable.

Brian P. McGuire

President & CEO

Associated Equipment Distributors

Schaumburg, IL