U.S. Physical Infrastructure: CRS Experts

April 25, 2017 (R44833)

A nation's physical infrastructure (for example, its transportation, water, energy, and communications systems and structures) serves as arteries for its economic and societal activity. The infrastructure of the United States was considered to be among the finest in the world, as post-World War II growth saw large amounts of investment in much of that infrastructure. Since all infrastructure structures and equipment have a finite useful life, some would say that functionality of U.S. infrastructure has declined over time.

Estimates of cost to meet the needs of the infrastructure sectors come from a variety of sources, and are based on a number of different methodologies. These estimates generally do not consider the potential effects of measures that could limit demand for infrastructure, such as imposing variable tolls on highways (to discourage driving at times when roads are at capacity) and encouraging household energy conservation (to reduce the need for new power transmission and distribution lines).

Not all U.S. infrastructures depend on federal investment for maintenance or modernization. Different ownership and investment models can and do exist within the various infrastructure sectors. Some infrastructure sectors depend on state or local government for funding, while other sectors are entirely financed by private sector investment. In some sectors, it is ultimately the taxpayer or ratepayer who pays for infrastructure (as the cost of infrastructure is incorporated into the price charged) or the user of that infrastructure (if there are fees). For a general discussion of what constitutes infrastructure and the federal role, see CRS In Focus IF10592, Infrastructure Investment and the Federal Government, by [author name scrubbed].

Given the potential links between infrastructure investment and economic performance, the Trump Administration has stated its intent to rebuild U.S. infrastructure. Congress has held initial hearings to evaluate infrastructure needs, and is planning further hearings to review federal funding for physical infrastructure.

The following table provides access to names and contact information for CRS experts on policy concerns relating to U.S. physical infrastructure sectors.

Sector/Legislative Issues	Name/Title	Phone	Email
Infrastructure (General)	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Transportation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Broadband	Angele A. Gilroy Specialist in Telecommunications Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Drinking Water and Wastewater
Wastewater Infrastructure	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Drinking Water Infrastructure and Treatment	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Electricity
Electric Power Networks	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Energy Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Natural Resources and Rural Development	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Federal Lands	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

LNG Export Facilities	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Energy Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Financing
Infrastructure Financing and Bonds	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Public Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Excise Taxes	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Public Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Tax Incentives	Molly F. Sherlock Specialist in Public Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Transportation Taxes	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Transportation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Transportation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Pipeline Networks	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Energy and Infrastructure Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Transportation
Airports	[author name scrubbed] Analyst in Transportation and Industry	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Aviation	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Aviation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Highways	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Transportation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Highway Trust Fund	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Transportation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Transportation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Ports/Waterways	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Transportation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Public Transportation	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Transportation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Public-Private Partnerships and Transportation Finance	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Transportation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Railroads	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Transportation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Water Resource Projects
Flood Control Infrastructure	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Western Water Facilities and Federal Hydropower	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Non-Federal Hydropower	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Natural Resources and Energy Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Author Contact Information

[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Energy Policy ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

[author name scrubbed], Section Research Manager ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])