The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 is poised to send billions of taxpayer dollars from the nation's capital through the states to local communities to improve our roads, bridges, dams, broadband networks, electric vehicle charging stations, mass transit systems, and more. To ensure the success of these historic infrastructure investments, action must be taken to prevent waste, fraud and abuse, and ensure the law lives up to its promise.
On Friday, March 25, the Levin Center and Wayne State University Law Review will present a one-day online symposium focused on meeting infrastructure investment challenges and opportunities. "Oversight, Infrastructure, and Federalism: Ensuring Transparency, Accountability, and Effectiveness" will be presented from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Attendees will hear from a diverse group of experts, including academics, oversight practitioners, and affected communities, on steps that can be taken to safeguard infrastructure investments.
Panel 1, beginning at 10 a.m., will look at "Establishing Mechanisms for Oversight of Infrastructure." Speaking will be Shruti Shah, president & CEO, Coalition for Integrity; Lawrence Goldenhersh, president, Center for Sustainable Energy; Peter Hammer, professor of law, Wayne Law; Alexander Beckmann, senior policy advisor on transportation and infrastructure issues, Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL); and moderator Beth Osborne, director, Transport for America.
Panel 2, beginning at 2 p.m., will look at "Exercising Oversight of Infrastructure Performance." Speaking will be Elizabeth Repko, director for Physical Infrastructure, GAO; Andrew Doctoroff, Michigan lead, Gordie Howe International Bridge Project, and adjunct professor, University of Michigan Law School; Joe Colaianne, general counsel, Four Lakes Task Force; John Sylvia, director Performance Evaluation & Research Division, West Virginia State Legislature; and moderator Portia Bamiduro, technical adviser to senior vice president, Global Corporate Affairs, Amazon.
To register for either or both online panels, visit www.levin-center.org.
