Washington, D.C. ? Democratic lawmakers said Sunday that Congress should pass a second economic aid plan that would focus on helping homeowners avoid foreclosure and increasing spending on bridges, roads and transit systems.

“Our economy will never grow in the 21st century unless we expand and repair the deteriorating infrastructure needs of our country,” said Sen. Christopher Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

The second-ranking Democratic senator, Dick Durbin of Illinois, said he wants to extend unemployment benefits. He said the Iraq war is adding about $12 billion to $15 billion to the deficit each month.

“But when we suggest putting money in this economy to help struggling families, unemployed families and those who are trying to get by, the Republicans quickly say, ‘Oh, this is a big deficit problem.”‘