Municipal officials and analysts have their sights set on social equity and climate resilience as Congress debates more than a trillion dollars of infrastructure spending proposed by the Biden administration, panelists focus on how state and local governments will use existing American Rescue Plan Act funding to address broadband and water and sewer needs. Additionally, panelists weigh in on the outlook for investment by counties and cities and risks posed by climate change to states, counties, and cities in the $4 trillion municipal bond market.

This special briefing features a panel of experts, including Governor Brad Little, Idaho; US Representative Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-Georgia); Laura Curran, Executive, Nassau County New York; Thomas G. Doe, president, Municipal Market Analytics.

Notable Quotes:

"I look at all infrastructure through the climate lens," Municipal Market Analytics (MMA) President Thomas G. Doe said "It's looking not just at existing projects and their risk, but also what the future probable risks are for any new efforts that are being done, and, especially, not just on durability but also on equity as well."

"As you know this is not a sexy topic," but it is critical, Representative Bourdeaux said. "It's kind of like your abs when you work out: It is your core."

Governor Little said Idaho was being cautious in its use of relief money. "We're not certain, and I don't think anybody is, about when this is going to normalize," he said. "We want to make sure we know what normal is … and what to do when the federal government ceases to inject money into the economy."

"When you have stable communities, safe communities, and more environmentally resilient communities, that's good for the economy, ergo it’s good for our credit rating," Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said, noting the county's efforts to rectify chronic credit issues.

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Special Briefing is published by the Volcker Alliance, as part of its Public Finance initiatives, and Penn IUR. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the panelists and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Volcker Alliance or Penn IUR.