IMPACT Act clears House
On Sept. 23, the House of Representatives passed HR 7685, the Innovative Mitigation Partnerships for Asphalt and Concrete Technologies (IMPACT) Act.
Passage of the IMPACT Act came during a suspension of rules, and the bill quietly moved out of the House and will await action in the Senate.
The bill assists the Department of Energy (DOE) in establishing a new program that works on dedicated research and development for low-emission cement, concrete and asphalt technologies. The bill would help DOE develop a five-year strategic plan to support R&D activities as well as support achievable targets for different type of construction materials, including asphalt.
The IMPACT Act also authorizes DOE to leverage existing partner institutions for the research and development of low-carbon cement, concrete and asphalt, which would benefit research partners like the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University.
NAPA supported the IMPACT Act from its introduction before the House Science, Space & Technology Committee (SST) in March, where it was immediately scheduled for a markup before Chairman Frank Lucas (OK) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA).
The bill passed SST’s markup in March unanimously, meaning it moved to the House floor for consideration, and this week passed “under suspension of rules”, which expedites the procedural rules to move bills through the chamber without needing to establish rules for a debate, floor amendments or other legislative processes. The bill was able to pass via a simple voice vote, with no representatives objecting on the floor.
NAPA Vice President for Government Affairs Nile Elam said NAPA’s work on the bill from inception to House passage underscores the industry’s work on low-carbon solutions in Congress.
“The IMPACT Act is a great example of industry and policy stakeholders coming together to identify and execute an idea that strives for environmental stewardship without sacrificing the great work asphalt producer have prioritized – and continue to prioritize – regarding low-carbon pavements and innovative technology deployments,” Elam said. “NAPA continues to lead efforts that showcase the great advantages our materials provide while spotlighting the best practices and tremendous stories our members achieve every day with their carbon output. We will continue to work on the IMPACT Act in the Senate and work with our friends in Congress on more pragmatic bills that achieve our industry’s sustainability goals.”
The IMPACT Act is now referred to the Senate, where circumstances could lead it down a myriad of pathways, including a potential legislative hearing before the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. The bill may also be absorbed into a larger legislative package, such as a must-pass funding or defense package, or could receive no activity and would expire at the conclusion of the 118th Congress; should that occur, the bill will need to be reintroduced and start the legislative process all over again when the 119th Congress convenes in 2025.
NAPA will continue to follow the IMPACT Act and will share updates as they come.
