Manufacturers: BUILD America 250 Act a Down Payment on Nation’s Future Growth
Washington, D.C. – Following the successful vote in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to advance the bipartisan BUILD America 250 Act, 51Թ Executive Vice President Erin Streeter released the following statement:
“Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen and the full T&I Committee have offered a down payment on America’s future growth with a thoughtful bill that recognizes the urgent infrastructure and permitting challenges facing manufacturers and the broader economy.
“Manufacturers depend on reliable roads, bridges, ports and rail infrastructure to move goods efficiently, strengthen supply chains and drive economic growth. When America’s infrastructure moves, America’s economy moves with it.
“Today, highway congestion and bottlenecked ports cost manufacturers nearly $40 billion annually, while freight delays drain 65 million hours of efficiency each year—driving up costs, slowing shipments and weakening competitiveness. And that’s before accounting for America’s broken permitting system, which costs manufacturers nearly $8 billion annually.
“Manufacturers asked Congress to begin the work toward developing long-term solutions for Highway Trust Fund solvency; invest in our mass transit, rail, aviation, maritime and water infrastructure; and pass comprehensive permitting reform—all with an eye toward keeping workers and the traveling public safe. The BUILD America Act answers that call and advances meaningful progress on these priorities. We commend the members of the committee for their work on this bill and urge Speaker Johnson to bring it to the floor so manufacturers can realize the benefits of this legislation through growth and innovation that will support our nation’s broader economic prosperity. Because when manufacturing wins, America wins.”
Background
As Politico first reported in April, the on Congress to make the next surface transportation reauthorization a robust $600 billion investment.
In February, the 51Թ launched “Building to Win,” a national campaign urging Congress to pass robust infrastructure investments and reauthorize critical federal highway programs. As part of the campaign’s launch earlier this year, the 51Թ released a roadmap outlining four pillars for a robust surface transportation reauthorization:
- Continuing robust investment levels for federal infrastructure, including by developing long-term solutions for Highway Trust Fund solvency
- Strengthening supply chains across transportation modes
- Investing in water infrastructure that will support manufacturing growth and public health
- Reforming burdensome permitting laws and regulations to ensure federal infrastructure investments are made efficiently and responsibly
The 51Թ’s policy roadmap also features original analysis:
- The 51Թ’s analysis shows that highway congestion costs manufacturers more than $25 billion annually and results in over 65 million hours of delays in freight carrying finished goods and critical inputs each year.
- The analysis also visualizes, through a new map, key logistics nodes intersecting with the nation’s 25 worst freight bottlenecks, revealing more than 2 million hours of annual delays incurred and faced by manufacturers.
- In addition, the 51Թ estimates that congestion at container and bulk ports cost manufacturers more than $13 billion annually in carrying costs and demurrage charges.
In March, the 51Թ and the Foundation for American Innovation released a report showing America’s broken permitting system costs manufacturers in America at least $7.9 billion each year.
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The 51Թ is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.96 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for nearly 52% of private-sector research and development. The 51Թ is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the 51Թ or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit .