Though often overlooked and undervalued, the vital role of public works was once acknowledged by the U.S. House of Representatives as the 119th Congress re-established the House Public Works and Infrastructure Caucus. The Caucus, initially established in 2016, is headed by bipartisan Co-Chairs, Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and serves as an invaluable resource for educating Congress members and their staff about critical infrastructure that communities nationwide rely on daily and in the midst of emergencies.
Public works and infrastructure include transportation networks, water systems, emergency services, flood protection, waste management, recreational facilities, and public buildings—all indispensable components supporting America’s quality of life and economic vitality. It is these essential services that earned public works employees the designation of “first responders.” They are often first on scene: Clearing roadways after storms, or repairing utilities.
A crucial part of the homeland security enterprise, public works played an enormous role in the aftermath of domestic terrorist attacks, such as 9/11 and the April 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Following 9/11, they removed massive amounts of debris, working alongside other first responders, to clear the streets as well as the Ground Zero and Pentagon sites. After the Marathon bombing, public works supported law enforcement in shutting down streets and providing lights during the hunt for the second suspect.
Additionally, critical infrastructure such as bridges, dams, water systems, and power grids require protection from natural disasters and deliberate attacks, while also needing to function reliably during crises. Public works departments collaborate closely with security agencies to incorporate resilience into infrastructure design, implement redundant systems, and establish robust emergency protocols.
By investing in these protective measures and collaboratively planning with emergency response agencies, public works departments serve as a first line of defense in preserving public safety and national security. It is more important than ever that elected officials and their staff remain knowledgeable about and engaged in their oversight public works and infrastructure.
Currently, Caucus members include:
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL 12)
Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA 26)
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO 05)
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN 09)
Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS 03)
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA 10)
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI 06)
Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA 08)
Rep. Tony Gonzales (D-TX 23)
Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA 09)
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA 04)
Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY 25)
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC 05)
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN 05)
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA 19)
Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH 01)
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD 08)
Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC 07)
*Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV 01, Caucus Co-Chair)
*Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ 02, Caucus Co-Chair)