Statement of Terence M. O'Sullivan, General President of LIUNA, On the One Year Anniversary...

Statement of Terence M. O'Sullivan, General President of LIUNA, On the One Year Anniversary of the I-35 Bridge Collapse in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS--(Business Wire)--
Tomorrow we mark the one year anniversary of the tragic collapse
of the I-35 bridge in Minnesota that killed 13 people and injured
hundreds more.

The image of the I-35 bridge collapsing is seared in America's
memory and in the memory of LIUNA - the Laborers' International Union
of North America. LIUNA members were on that bridge, some simply
crossing the Mississippi River as millions do every day, while others
were working on a repaving crew. Every one of those members would
rather have been fixing the I-35 instead of just patching it.

There were numerous warnings about the I-35 bridge dating back to
the 1990s, but even after its deadly collapse there remain today more
than 150,000 bridges across America in need of repair. Overall, the
American Society of Civil Engineers gives our infrastructure a "D"
grade and estimates that the investment now needed to bring the
country back to acceptable condition is $1.6 trillion and rising
because of inflation and continuing deterioration.

The condition of our bridges and the state of America's other
basics call for a commitment to build America. It is time that we
repair, rebuild and renew the basics in our country rather than
relying on band-aid fixes and patch-work solutions. We must make
building America an immediate priority. We cannot wait for another
bridge to fall or another levee to be breached before we act.

Building America leaves behind a stronger, safer nation and
creates good family-supporting jobs that stimulate our economy. A
study by the U.S. Department of Transportation concludes that 47,500
jobs can be created for every $1 billion invested in building America.
While the I-35 bridge collapse was a stark reminder of tragedies that
happen when we wait too long to take care of the basics, the I-35 New
Bridge Project demonstrates the positive impact building America can
have on the economy and local community.

The I-35 New Bridge Project is a testament to the strength and
resolve of America, our union and hundreds of proud LIUNA members and
contractors. From this tragedy, which shocked our nation, we have
renewed our focus on taking care of the basics of America - our
bridges, roadways, waterways and other fundamentals that working
people depend on every day. The 250 LIUNA members helping to rebuild
the I-35 bridge - ahead of schedule, on budget and safely - are
proving that we can build America so America works if we put our
hearts, hands and minds to it.

The half-million members of LIUNA - the Laborers' International
Union of North America - are on the forefront of the construction
industry, a powerhouse of 10 million workers who build America.

LIUNA recently launched its Build America, so America Works
campaign, a long-term effort to make taking care of America's
highways, bridges, dams, schoolhouses and other basics a national
priority. The effort includes ongoing targeted advertising outreach, a
new website www.LiunaBuildsAmerica.org and The Petition to Build
America, with a goal of 1 million voices telling Congress and the
country's next president to "build America so America works."

LIUNA
Jacob Hay, 202-942-2285 or 202-445-4788
jhay@liuna.org

Copyright Business Wire 2008