Also, as a report by the Democratic staff of the Joint Economic Committee argued, relying on private investment is risky and can cost more than direct taxpayer funding, since investors expect a healthy return. In the past, some public-private partnerships have been poorly negotiated and shut out competition that would have resulted in better pricing and improved public services, the report said.

Ahead of the president’s State of the Union address where he is expected to focus on infrastructure, Joint Economic Committee Democrats today released a report on the administration’s plan that is anticipated to shift responsibility for infrastructure onto the private sector and cash-strapped state and local governments. Democrats agree that a major investment in upgrading and maintaining our country’s infrastructure is needed, but it is unrealistic to expect states and cities to foot the bill.

Joint Economic Committee Democrats today released a report on the growing economic impact of United States freight railroads. The volume of commerce crossing our borders has more than tripled in the last 25 years and U.S. freight shipments are expected to increase by 41 percent by 2040, placing a growing demand on America’s freight rail system and the 30 rail ports of entry (POEs) along our borders. As Congress considers border policies and solutions in the coming months, investment in border infrastructure to ensure our rail POEs can operate at full capacity should be an important part of the conversation.

The study, issued by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, explores a part of the jobs-and-education landscape that's risen sharply on the public's radar in the last few years: the vast array of jobs that require more than a high school diploma and less than a bachelor's degree. Those "middle-skill" jobs account for 48 percent of U.S. employment, according to researchers.