Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy headlined this year’s Cement Fly-in at American Cement Association (ACA) headquarters in Washington, D.C., which took place on June 3-4. It was the first time in the association’s history that a sitting Cabinet member participated in an ACA event.
The timing was ideal as one of the industry’s current top priorities is the passage of the BUILD America 250 Act — the $580 billion bipartisan, five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill. Secretary Duffy shared his views on the importance of the bill as well as reasons he agrees the permitting process must be reformed.
ACA members also heard from and asked questions of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Member Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.), key House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders, including Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta (R-Ohio), Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) and Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas).
Most importantly, ACA members engaged directly with lawmakers and their staff in more than 160 Capitol Hill meetings to discuss cement’s critical role in national security, infrastructure, and its essentialness in the daily lives of all Americans. Many thanks to the ACA members who made the trip to Washington to join us for this important event.
ACA was one of 80 trade associations to send a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on June 15, asking them to bring the BUILD America 250 Act to the full House for a vote. The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) and the The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) were among the organizations making the request.
The bipartisan bill would authorize $580 billion in funding for highway, transit, rail and safety programs through Sept. 30, 2026. It would maintain core formula programs, create new revenue for the Highway Trust Fund, make the largest investment in bridge construction, and advance the innovation occurring in the transportation space.
The bill sailed through the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee late last month. Unfortunately, momentum has slowed since then.
ACA said it will continue to urge support of the BUILD America 250 Act.
