Late last month, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published proposed greenhouse gas standards for heavy-duty truck emissions for model year 2027 through 2032. EPA emission standards apply to concrete pumps nationwide. These new “Phase 3” standards build on the “Phase 2” standards established in 2016.
The 118th Congress got off to a slow start while the House Republican leadership race sorted in early January, leaving Kevin McCarthy as the new Speaker of the House after 15 votes. The extended race for the leader highlighted various, sometimes conflicting, positions that Speaker McCarthy must navigate within his caucus. This will be a challenging session.
As summer activity winds down in Washington in early August and federal legislators return to their states and districts to visit with their constituents, and in some cases campaign for the upcoming midterm elections, we have a chance to reflect on this session of Congress to date, and to look ahead through the rest of the year.
In April, we joined our fellow cement and concrete industry groups for the Washington Fly-In, in person for the first time in a couple of years. In dozens of meetings on Capitol Hill, ACPA’s seven participants made the case for the Concrete Pump Tax Fairness Act; against favorable treatment for mass timber construction; for federal workforce support for technical training; and against short-term reductions in the federal gas tax.
For years, “This is infrastructure week!” was the cry from Washington, involving a constant outreach to federal policymakers and legislators stressing the importance of maintaining our nation’s existing infrastructure while building the twenty-first century infrastructure needed to compete globally. After too many meetings, hearings, bill drafts, mark-ups and floor debates over the years, we finally did it. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), was signed into law last November.
Infrastructure Week has finally arrived! After years of lobbying in support of federal investments, leadership in Washington finally heard the construction industry and its many partners. The $1.2 trillion federal investment will be matched by significant state and local government investment, increasing the economic benefit over time. President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) into law on November 15, 2021.
As the magazine goes to press, Washington enters yet another “Infrastructure Week.” Yes, another, but this time is different. The Senate and the White House negotiated the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, the Senate voted repeatedly to consider the legislation to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, and we now await their action of the legislative language. The House of Representatives passed the INVEST Act last month. The House bill is similar in size and scope to the Senate Bipartisan approach, but takes a different approach on a number of programs.
Due to pandemic restrictions, this year’s Fly-In was virtual. We traded dashing around Capitol Hill for signing in and out of Zoom and Go-To meetings and calls.
January marked the beginning of the New Year, the 117th Congress, and the Biden-Harris Administration. While there have already been many changes with these new starts, the growing challenges of living with the coronavirus is not one of them, unfortunately. COVID-19 continues to drive government activity at all levels across the country. With 500,000 dead expected by the end of February, meeting public health needs is paramount. Vaccine distribution is the bright light at the very long tunnel. However, social distancing requirements necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 continue to negatively affect our economy and our citizens.
