Building to Win

A: Manufacturing, like every other aspect of our economy, depends on a strong transportation system and infrastructure. President Trump has prioritized bringing manufacturing back to the United States, and he’s already seen significant success. As Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’m working to make sure we have an efficient, safe, and reliable infrastructure that supports and facilitates the growth of manufacturing in the United States. The best way to do that is by passing a bill that focuses on building the infrastructure needed to move goods and people safely and efficiently. The next surface transportation reauthorization bill will focus on hard infrastructure, such as roads and bridges.

Another main priority of mine is fixing the Highway Trust Fund, which serves as the main funding source at the federal level for road and bridge projects. We must address the solvency challenges facing the Highway Trust Fund and preserve our user-pays system. Right now, that system is broken, and it has been for some time. The best way to provide long-term certainty is to finally begin shoring up the Highway Trust Fund and ensuring that all users are paying into the system.

Additionally, this bill is about looking forward and building an infrastructure for the future. Anticipating the transportation and infrastructure needs of the next 20 years is the best way to support economic growth and help our manufacturers as their industry continues to evolve.

A: The surface transportation reauthorization bill impacts all Americans – we all use or rely on roads, bridges, and rails. Traditionally, this legislation provides tens of billions of dollars in annual funding to improve American highways, bridges, transit, and other surface transportation infrastructure. It also provides funding for rail, trucking safety, and other transportation programs. Surface transportation bills typically expire after five years. That multi-year timeframe gives states the long-term funding certainty they need to plan and carry out many of their most critical projects. The current highway bill, which was part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, expires on September 30, 2026. Unless Congress acts before then, federal programs will be impacted, including that long-term certainty. This is unacceptable, and I’m committed to getting the next surface bill done on time and preventing potential project delays and uncertainty that can result from a lapse in long-term funding.

A: I represent all of North Missouri. Investing in our roads has never been more important for the future of our communities, large and small. For manufacturers to succeed, as well as to attract new companies, we’ve got to have good infrastructure. It’s critical for shipping Missouri-made products across the country, for receiving inputs and for farmers getting goods to market. As we work to bring manufacturing back to the United States, my district and many others see an opportunity to grow their local economy. In order to make that happen, we have to maintain and improve our infrastructure across the country.

A: NAM has over 14,000 members from every sector of manufacturing. The United States depends on a strong manufacturing industry, and NAM provides a voice for our manufacturers, large and small. They are truly at the center of manufacturing in this country. So, when it comes to getting an infrastructure bill of this size done, we need to hear from all industries, especially our manufacturers. Whether it’s in the early stages of crafting the bill when we’re looking for feedback on existing policy and asking for priorities from the manufacturing industry – and we appreciate NAM’s efforts in that process – or after the bill has been introduced and is working its way through the legislative process, organizations like NAM have an important role in getting information out there about what the bill does and how it will benefit the country.

A: Interstate commerce is dependent on a functioning transportation network. As we revitalize our manufacturing industry after decades of industrial decay, we must make the investments necessary to move goods safely and efficiently from one side of the country to another. This is an ongoing commitment requiring continued investment in our nation’s roads and bridges. We need to also maintain a strong emphasis on cutting red tape, permitting reform and flexibility. Our reauthorization bill should also prioritize providing funding to states through a set formula, so money is not just funneled to population hubs. It’s an approach I worked hard to maintain under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and must continue. It ensures states have consistent funding and flexibility to meet their constituents’ needs, and it is the most effective way to deliver projects. Accelerating project delivery isn’t entirely about building things more quickly. If we streamline projects and eliminate duplicative permitting and other requirements in the Federal-aid Highway Program, we’re saving taxpayer dollars and giving people higher quality infrastructure more quickly. If we create a better infrastructure baseline, the benefits start compounding through the entire federal system.

A: Governments should provide a consistent framework where the private sector can create economic growth and jobs. This consistency is even more important for infrastructure projects, which often cost billions of dollars and span multiple years. Without the certainty of a multiyear reauthorization, states and locals won’t develop and execute new infrastructure projects, and they will also struggle to maintain the existing systems and supply chains. Congress can’t simply keep promising to fix things in the future. I can’t drive across a bridge that’s been paid for with nothing but a promise. President Trump and Republicans are committed to building things, which is why we’ve prioritized regular order, the appropriations process, and now this new highway bill.

A: North Dakota is a large but rural state in the center of the continent, and we rely on infrastructure to a different degree than people on the coasts. We’re farther away from grocery stores, hospitals, and our jobs, making infrastructure at the front and center of our daily lives, as well as central in our economy. Whether it’s transmission lines, pipelines, roads or bridges, infrastructure is the difference maker when it comes to turning raw material into economic growth and prosperity. It is a force multiplier for economic activity. In addition to having a significant manufacturing sector, North Dakota produces more energy and agriculture products than we consume, so the state of our infrastructure determines how quickly and efficiently our business owners can get their products to market.

A: North Dakota has a great story to tell. Although we are a rural state, the manufacturing centers, food processing facilities, and industrial factories in other states often depend on the commodities and raw materials we produce in North Dakota. An organization like NAM can fill in pieces of the puzzle not everyone sees about manufacturing in America. NAM can educate about how the wheat from North Dakota becomes pasta in New York and help build the case about why a member of Congress who might otherwise not care about an agriculture issue should support some of the exciting ag or energy projects we are working on in North Dakota.

A: For too long, Northeastern Pennsylvania has seen infrastructure projects talked about, studied, and delayed instead of finished, and that hurts workers and manufacturers alike. That’s why my priorities for this surface reauthorization are cutting red tape, improving worker safety, and making sure federal dollars actually reach local communities so long-standing projects can finally move forward. When roads, bridges, and utilities work, local manufacturers can move goods faster, lower costs, and keep jobs here at home. Infrastructure policy should strengthen NEPA’s manufacturing base and deliver real results, not paperwork and delays.

A: It’s important that Congress provides our local communities and businesses certainty by passing a surface reauthorization bill on time. When federal programs and funding are predictable, it allows the states, counties, and municipalities to finish projects, keep workers on the job, and avoid higher costs caused by uncertainty. For manufacturers specifically, reliable transportation policy means safer roads, stronger supply chains, and lower costs to move goods. Getting this done on time is about keeping the economy moving and delivering results people can actually see.

A: Investing in infrastructure delivers real, everyday benefits for people and manufacturers in NEPA and across the country. Safer roads and bridges help workers get to their jobs and families travel safely, while manufacturers can move materials and finished goods more efficiently and at lower cost. Our district is a critical supply chain hub. From NEPA, you can reach 60 percent of the nation’s population within a one-day CDL drive, which makes reliable transportation infrastructure essential to keeping goods moving and jobs here at home. When infrastructure works, NEPA works.

A: Congress needs to hear directly from the people who are building, making, and moving goods about what they need to succeed, and that’s where the NAM’s leadership matters. We should be setting up an environment that supports industry, not one that slows it down with unnecessary red tape and regulation. As someone who came from the business world, I know it’s manufacturers and workers who move America forward, not Washington. NAM helps make sure those real-world voices are heard as Congress works to get an infrastructure bill done this year.

A: My top priorities, from a big-picture perspective, in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill are the regulatory reforms necessary to achieve more timely project delivery, improved roadway safety, and the strengthening of formula funding to deliver a strong infrastructure package that provides greater predictability, flexibility, and stretches the federal tax dollar further — all with a focus on roads, bridges, and the safe and efficient movement of freight. In my home state of North Carolina, and across the country, bottlenecks result in delay and additional costs for families, businesses and workers alike. That’s why I’m focused on common sense permitting reform, better project delivery, and giving states the funding certainty and flexibility they need to address their most pressing infrastructure challenges. States know their needs best and the federal government should be a conduit of support and predictability for infrastructure projects — not an obstacle of red tape and uncertainty.

A: Current law expires on September 30. Passing a surface transportation reauthorization package on time will provide the funding certainty states need to deliver major infrastructure projects far more efficiently than if one is not passed. Congress has the responsibility to pass a strong, multi-year reauthorization bill to keep projects moving, ensure the sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and strengthen the reliability of America’s transportation system.

A: Southeastern North Carolina depends on safe, efficient transportation to support its ports, coastal economy, and the daily movement of people and goods to and from manufacturing hubs across the region — all of which rely on dependable roads, bridges, and freight connections to move materials and products. Improving reliability helps those businesses operate more efficiently and remain competitive, which in turn is critical to the many other businesses and employees impacted by that economic activity. Good infrastructure also improves quality of life. Whether one is commuting to work, traveling between counties, getting supplies to a job site, or evacuating during a hurricane, dependable roads and bridges matter. Strategic investment in core infrastructure means safer travel, fewer disruptions, and a more reliable transportation network that supports economic growth, job creation, and the long-term competitiveness of industries in our region.

A: The National Association of Manufacturers plays an important role by helping connect infrastructure policy to real-world needs of the economy. Your advocacy helps ensure Congress understands that a timely reauthorization of transportation policy is necessary to enhance supply chains, freight movement, project delivery, and long-term competitiveness. I appreciate NAM’s engagement to ensure all members of Congress understand the importance of a good and timely surface reauthorization bill that benefits their districts and the country as a whole. I look forward to our continued work together to achieve this.

A: My priority in this surface transportation reauthorization bill is making sure Congress returns its focus to real infrastructure investments that strengthen the American economy and support long-term growth. Manufacturers in Michigan and across the country depend on safe, reliable roads, bridges, freight corridors, rail connections, and ports to move raw materials and finished products efficiently. When those systems are unreliable or congested, it increases costs, slows supply chains, and makes it harder for American manufacturers to compete globally. I also believe we need to reduce unnecessary regulatory delays so infrastructure projects can move from planning to construction more efficiently. Taxpayer dollars should be focused on practical, high-impact investments that improve mobility, safety, and freight movement. A strong reauthorization bill should reinforce the transportation systems Americans rely on every day while creating an environment where manufacturers can continue investing, growing, and creating jobs here in the United States.

A: Infrastructure is one of the core pillars of responsibility for Government. States, local communities, and manufacturers need certainty to plan and deliver major infrastructure projects. Delays or short-term extensions create uncertainty for both transportation agencies and private sector partners, making it harder to prioritize investments and complete projects efficiently. Long-term authorization provides the stability needed to maintain and improve our critical transportation network. For Michigan, this is especially important because manufacturing plays such a major role in our economy. Our state’s manufacturers rely on dependable infrastructure to support supply chains, connect workers to jobs, and move goods across the country and internationally. Reauthorization also gives Congress an opportunity to refocus transportation policy on practical infrastructure priorities that improve safety, reduce congestion, and strengthen overall system performance.

A: Manufacturing is still the largest industry in Michigan’s economy, contributing more than $115 billion in economic output and supporting about 600,000 manufacturing jobs across more than 12,000 facilities statewide. Those manufacturers depend on a reliable highway and bridge network to move materials, components, and finished goods safely and efficiently. Michigan is also a major hub for advanced manufacturing, automotive production, and cross-border trade, which makes strong transportation infrastructure especially important to the state’s long-term economic competitiveness. Manufacturing supports nearly 35,000 jobs across my district in mid-Michigan and plays an important role in all our communities. Investing in infrastructure helps reduce congestion, improve roadway safety, strengthen supply chains, and create more reliable connections between manufacturers, workers, suppliers, and customers. These investments not only support economic growth, but also improve quality of life for the people who rely on these transportation systems every day.

A: One of my priorities in the BUILD America 250 Act is supporting the important highway and rail corridors that serve our nation’s ports. These corridors are essential links for manufacturers’ supply chains, both for bringing in the raw materials they need and delivering their finished products to customers around the world. My provision would ensure these highways and railroads continue serving as a strong bridge – rather than a bottleneck – for our country’s entrepreneurs.

A: The current surface transportation law expires on September 30th of this year. I’m proud to have worked on a bipartisan basis to advance the reauthorization bill out of committee, and look forward to moving this bill through the full House in the near future.

A: The Central Coast of California is a hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurship. From globally successful aerospace companies to the food producers who feed the nation, our manufacturers depend on reliable roads, highways, and rail lines to keep the regional economy moving forward. That’s why I’m focused on strengthening and modernizing our infrastructure. Investing in these critical transportation networks ensures our diverse manufacturing base can thrive, our supply chains stay resilient, and our talented workforce has the foundation it needs to successfully compete.

A: NAM’s leadership is critical because of what NAM uniquely brings to the table: a unified voice representing manufacturers of every size, and across every major sector. When Congress takes on a far-reaching infrastructure package such as the BUILD America 250 Act, hearing directly from that broad coalition of employers is crucial. This feedback helps build the bipartisan momentum required to pass such a large and comprehensive bill.