NAM Brings Policymakers, Manufacturers Together at Port Houston

With the clock ticking on surface transportation funding, manufacturers and policymakers gathered at Port Houston recently with a clear message: Congress must deliver a full, long-term reauthorization.

What’s going on: The NAM-hosted “Port Houston: Ports, Permitting and Manufacturing Forum,” held recently at the nation’s busiest waterway by total tonnage, brought together administration officials, Texas congressional leaders and industry representatives to talk about federal, state and private coordination on the BUILD America 250 Act, as well as permitting reform, the Water Resources Development Act and overall manufacturing competitiveness.

• In May, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the NAM-backed highway bill, which includes bold investments in infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and transit systems.
• It authorizes federal surface transportation programs through fiscal year 2031 to the tune of $580 billion, just shy of the amount the NAM recommended in April ($600 billion).
• The House recently passed a stopgap spending bill that funds U.S. surface transportation programs through Dec. 11 (Roll Call).
• The Senate version of the stopgap bill passed last month.

Who was there, what was discussed: Attendees included Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), staff from the office of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and representatives from the Small Business Administration’s Office of Rural Affairs, as well as manufacturers CRH, Vulcan, Burns & McDonnell and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, Port Houston Director of Government Relations Cam Rahmn-Spencer and NAM Managing Vice President of Government Relations Stef Webb, along with other NAM representatives. The group discussed the highway bill and other key manufacturing infrastructure priorities.

• Connected freight infrastructure: Participants discussed the importance of pairing investments in ports and waterways through WRDA with the roads, bridges and freight infrastructure supported through surface transportation programs to efficiently move goods across the country and connect manufacturers in America to global markets.
• Long-term funding certainty: The group emphasized the need for a durable surface transportation reauthorization and predictable formula funding, as uncertainty and short-term extensions can cause state departments of transportation to delay planning and project delivery, creating backlogs throughout the infrastructure supply chain.
• Permitting and project delivery: Participants also discussed the importance of permitting reform, a longtime NAM priority, and more efficient project reviews to reduce unnecessary delays and move infrastructure investments from planning to construction more quickly.

Why it’s important: The forum came just one day after Port Houston released a new economic study finding that activity along the Houston Ship Channel supports nearly $1 trillion in annual U.S. economic value and 3.53 million jobs nationwide—underscoring the importance of reliable infrastructure to manufacturers and the broader economy.

The NAM says: “The clock is ticking toward Dec. 11, and manufacturers need Congress to finish the job,” said Webb.

• “A full reauthorization will give states and businesses the certainty to plan, invest and build—and ensure the infrastructure that keeps goods moving can keep pace with manufacturing in America.”

Port Houston says: “Our nation’s ports need roadway and rail infrastructure to keep cargo flowing,” said Rahmn-Spencer.

• “Without consistent investments and the ability to build infrastructure quickly, we start to see bottlenecks and delays while moving freight. As we look toward the next decade of infrastructure investment, we must prioritize our seaports and their connectivity to distribution and population centers.”
• “Thank you to the NAM for shinning a spotlight on how each step of the supply chain relies on each other, and specifically how our manufacturers depend on our seaports to distribute American-made products across the globe. We strongly urge Congress to pass a full reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Bill to secure funding for waterside to landside connectivity. Roadways and large-scale infrastructure projects, like those at Port Houston, need secure and consistent funding. Without it, these projects take decades to build and end up costing exponentially more.”

Learn more: Maritime and port delays cost manufacturers more than $13 billion annually. Visit the NAM’s “Building to Win” campaign webpage to learn more about the NAM’s work to advance surface transportation reauthorization.