Government Affairs

Highlights of the TCC Fly-In

Sunday, 19 May 2019 16:33

As reported previously in ACPA TODAY, the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Annual Fly-In was held May 13 through 15 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC.  The event was held in conjunction with the ARTBA Federal Issues Program.

Keynote speakers included FHWA Administrator Nicole R. Nason, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee. 

ACPA Chairman Jim Mack of CEMEX, and Leif Wathne, ACPA Executive Vice President, attended the fly-in ahead of the ACPA Chapter Committee meeting. 

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Highway Materials Group Event Focuses on Federal Investment

Wednesday, 15 May 2019 09:47

Members of Congress and officials from companies and associations involved in rebuilding America’s aging infrastructure held a press conference at the House Triangle yesterday to discuss the critical need for federal investment in the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure.

Organized by the Highway Materials Group (HMG) coalition, the event included comments by U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee’s Tax Policy Subcommittee, and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), Ranking Member  (RM) of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Highway & Transit Subcommittee.

“Every day we don’t act to improve our nation’s infrastructure, we fall further behind our global competitors,” Chairman Blumenauer says, adding, “It is past time that we step up and demonstrate the courage necessary to pass a comprehensive infrastructure bill. I look forward to working with the Highway Materials Group and vast array of supporters in finally delivering for the American people.”

“Since 2003, federal spending on infrastructure has decreased by 20% when adjusted for inflation,” RM Davis says. “We need major investment in our infrastructure if our economy is going to continue to thrive. I’m encouraged by the interest of both parties to get something done on infrastructure this Congress, but we have to figure out a way to pay for it. I believe it is long past time to consider ways to diversify funding streams for transportation projects and it’s the only way to guarantee long-term sustainability. I’m looking forward to continuing these conversations throughout Infrastructure Week and as we work to get a bill done.”

Representing ACPA at the event were Chairman Jim Mack (CEMEX) and Leif Wathne, ACPA Executive Vice President. 

HMG Sponsors TV Ads
In related news the HMG sponsored TV ads over a two-week period to urge Congress to fund and pass meaningful infrastructure investment legislation. The campaign TV commercial, “Life Won’t Wait,” shows the human toll that the nation’s deteriorating infrastructure takes on our daily lives. The HMG is joining with the American Trucking Associations in this venture to give greater voice across sectors on the need to fun infrastructure investment now.  The ad campaign is running through May 23 in the Washington, DC. media market.  

For more information on the pressing need for infrastructure investment and the cost of doing nothing, visit www.roadtoabetterfuture.com. On social media, be sure to follow the hashtags #InfrastructureNOW and #TimeToBuild.

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The Highway Materials Group is comprised of eleven national associations, representing companies that provide the construction materials and equipment essential to building America’s roads, highways and bridges. We employ tens of thousands of men and women in well-paying American jobs, and we strongly support increased investment in America’s surface transportation network.  Members include: American Coal Ash Association; America Concrete Pavement Association; American Traffic Safety Services Association; Associated Equipment Distributors; Association of Equipment Manufacturers; Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute; National Asphalt Pavement Association; National Ready Mixed Concrete Association; National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association; Portland Cement Association; and Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute.

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

See the commercial and other videos on ACPA’s YouTube Channel:  http://www.youtube.com/ConcretePavements

ACPA, PCA Offer Policy Recommendations to T&I Leadership

Monday, 13 May 2019 22:33

The American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA)  and the Portland Cement Association (PCA) penned a joint letter to the Leadership of the House Transportation Committee, reaffirming the associations’ interest in working closely with the Committee to advance legislation to make needed investments in our nation’s infrastructure.

The letter emphasized said, “An efficient and well-functioning transportation network is essential to meeting the needs of the 21st century, and for positioning the U.S. economy for robust growth.”

The letter also included specific recommendations to inform policy discussions regarding improving and restoring America’s infrastructure.  They included:  greater investment; investing wisely (with an emphasis on competition, life-cycle cost assesment and resilience); and the need for research and technology deployment.

The Accelerated Implementation and Deployment of Pavement Technologies (AID-PT) is a provision first included in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP 21).  This ACPA-led initiative created both a mechanism and funding for the delivery of pavement technology.  In 2015, Congress included the program in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which provides funding through 2020.

The program has resulted in funding and major initiatives being directed to the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center (CP Tech Center), an ACPA Technology Partner.  AID-PT has had direct and tangible benefits for highway agencies, contractors, consultants, and academia.  Concrete overlays and performance-engineered concrete mixtures (including the use of recycled concrete aggregates) are two technology initiatives that have received support in the form of outreach, education & training, and technology transfer.

ACPA also led advocacy efforts for a similar research provision was included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, Sec. 744, “Research and deployment of certain airfield pavement technologies.”

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It’s Official: Nason Sworn in as FHWA Administrator

Wednesday, 08 May 2019 07:36

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao presided over the swearing in ceremony for Nicole R. Nason as Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) last Thursday.  The event officially marks the beginning of Administrator Nason’s role as only the 20th FHWA Administrator and the 26th official to lead the FHWA and its predecessor organizations, which date back to 1893.

“We welcome Nicole back to the U.S. Department of Transportation,” says Secretary Chao, adding, “Her record of experience in the transportation sector and proven leadership skills will help this Administration’s efforts to streamline the permitting process, engage with innovative technologies, and enhance mobility on our nation’s highways.”

Since June 2017, Nason has served as Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Administration at the U.S. Department of State. She previously served as Administrator of USDOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 2006-2008 and was the Department’s Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs from 2003–2006. The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly confirmed Nason by a vote of 95-1 on March 28.

“I am honored to be selected by President Trump and privileged to join the strong team that Secretary Chao has assembled at DOT,“ Nason says. “Working with our many state and local partners, I look forward to leading the FHWA and to developing a strong, safe and modern transportation network that meets the needs of our 21st-century nation.“

Nason has also worked in the legislative branch as counsel for the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary and as press secretary for Rep. Porter Goss (R-FL-14), who was then Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Nason earned a B.A. in Political Science and Government at American University and a J.D. at Case Western Reserve University. 

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Photo:  Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao swears in Nicole R. Nason as FHWA Administrator as her husband David and children Abby, Alex and Brady look on. (Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Transportation)

ACPA Encourages Members to Participate in TCC Fly-In

Tuesday, 07 May 2019 13:29

The Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Annual Fly-In will be held in conjunction with the ARTBA Federal Issues Program from Monday, May 13, through Wednesday, May 15, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.  The hotel is located at 1000 H Street Northwest, Washington, DC.

ACPA Chairman Jim Mack of CEMEX, and Leif Wathne, ACPA Executive Vice President, are planning to attend the fly-in ahead of next week’s ACPA Chapter meeting.

For those interested in participating, please click here to reserve hotel rooms and register for the event.  Click here for additional  details, including the program schedule.  For any questions regarding the conference please contact Ed Tarrant at etarrant@artba.org.

In related news, the TCC has unveiled a new website, which includes information about its mission, history, current advocacy initiatives, and more.  Click here to see the website. ACPA is a long-standing member of TCC, which includes 31 members.  

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