The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) and other members of the Highway Materials Group (HMG) will push for increased highway funding during Infrastructure Week 2019.
Taking place from 13-17 May, Infrastructure Week is a national week of events, media coverage, focused advocacy and other efforts held around the country to build momentum for revitalisation of America’s economic competitiveness through rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure.
NSSGA says HMG is planning a press conference featuring members of Congress and the 11 HMG organisations to highlight the need to shore up the Highway Trust Fund – which runs out of money in 2020.
Additionally, HMG intends to attend a meeting to hear from the Federal Motor Carrier and Safety Administration on potential hours of services changes and other safety issues and an autonomous vehicle panel.
Hundreds of people from the aggregates industry are expected to be in Washington, DC, for meetings with members of Congress during the week as part of HMG’s events and the Transportation Construction Coalition advocacy events.
Michele Stanley, NSSGA vice president of government and regulatory affairs, says: “We need to make Congress aware that our country is facing a funding cliff if we do not find a long-term solution for the Trust Fund, which relies too heavily on a 26-year-old motor fuel user fee to pay for most of our infrastructure projects. Is anything worth the same now as it was over 25 years ago? There are so many of us that have a stake in a sustainable funding source, no matter if you produce aggregates in a quarry or pit, pour concrete, pave with asphalt or build our roads, highways or bridges with any of the necessary construction materials.”
