Industry News

As we reported last week, the third-annual North American Concrete Alliance* fly-in reached new heights with industry participation, an excellent program, and engagement by Federal government officials. 

In all, more than 140 participants representing 12 cement and concrete trade associations came to Washington to represent the industry. Speakers from nine federal agencies and Administration offices included the U.S. DOT, FHWA, The White House and the Office of the Vice President.

Officials included James Redstone, Special Assistant to the President, White House Domestic Policy Council; Phillip Pinegar, Domestic Policy Advisor for the Office of the Vice President; Paul Teller, Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs; and Brandye Hendrickson, Acting Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.

From Congress, 11 U.S. Representatives and three Senators presented remarks during the two-day event.  From the House, featured speakers included Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Ranking Member Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11), House Education & Labor Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment; and Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL-3), member of the T&I Committee and 2018 Cement & Concrete Champion. Other T&I Committee members also spoke during the event. 

From the Senate side, EPW Chairman (and 2016 Cement and Concrete Champion) John Barrasso (R-WY); Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Chair of the Senate EPW Infrastructure Subcommittee and 2019 Cement and Concrete Champion; and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), also with the Senate EPW Committee.  

The event also included issues-specific sessions that covered some of the cement and concrete industry’s highest priorities.  In addition to the presentations and discussions, the attendees also visited Capitol Hill to discuss funding and other topics. In all, 14 small teams attended more than 160 meetings on Capitol Hill and spoke with officials from an estimated 30% of Congressional offices.  

Among the discussion topics were highway reauthorization, the highway trust fund, resiliency, truck weights, LCCA, and airfield pavement research to name a few. 

Photo:  (L-R) ACPA Legislative Issues Committee Chairman Dan Rozycki (The Transtec Group) discusses infrastructure investment with Paul Teller, Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, during the NACA Fly-In cocktail reception and opening dinner. (Photo courtesy of PCA.)

Editor’s note:  Information for this story was provided by Rachel Derby, PCA.

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* The North American Concrete Alliance is a coalition of 12 concrete-related associations formed in 2004 for the purpose of addressing industry-wide concerns and initiatives in the areas of research, safety, education, and government affairs. The coalition is comprised of the American Concrete Pavement Association, American Concrete Pipe Association, American Concrete Pressure Pipe Association, American Concrete Pumping Association, Concrete Foundations Association, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, National Concrete Masonry Association, National Precast Concrete Association, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Portland Cement Association, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, and Tilt-Up Concrete Association.

Follow this link to see ACPA’s government affairs repository.