Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Following the release of surface transportation reauthorization bill text by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen, NAM Executive Vice President Erin Streeter released the following statement:

“Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen understand the importance of modern, reliable infrastructure to strengthening manufacturing in the United States, creating more jobs and keeping our country globally competitive. The highway bill released today reflects the needs of America’s manufacturers, including tremendous progress toward comprehensive permitting reform, and our industry looks forward to working with the committee to quickly advance this vital legislation.

“Highway congestion and port delays alone are costing manufacturers nearly $40 billion annually and freight delays account for 65 million hours of lost efficiency each year. By passing a robust surface transportation reauthorization bill and bipartisan, comprehensive permitting reform this year, Congress can take a major step forward to reduce congestion, improve reliability, and empower manufacturers to make and move products that reach millions worldwide—supporting communities here at home.”

Background

As Politico first reported in April, the NAM called on Congress to make the next surface transportation reauthorization a robust $600 billion investment.

In February, the NAM 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 NAM 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 NAM’s policy roadmap also features original analysis:

• The NAM’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 NAM estimates that congestion at container and bulk ports cost manufacturers more than $13 billion annually in carrying costs and demurrage charges.

In March, the NAM 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.

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers 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 NAM 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 NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.