NAPA joins TCC Fly-In, urges Congress to act on highway reauthorization
Industry leaders and advocates gathered in Washington, D.C., this week during a particularly critical moment as momentum for a robust surface transportation authorization law intensifies.
The two-day TCC Fly-In, led by Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), a partnership of 33 national associations and construction unions, brought hundreds of members together to explore key transportation policy issues, hear from top policymakers, and share their priorities on Capitol Hill.
NAPA kicked off with a member briefing that laid out the stakes for the asphalt pavement industry, detailed the priorities we’ve been sharing with lawmakers and administration officials, and urged members to make their voices heard.
“We really do count on you to tell the story of how important federal investment is,” NAPA President & CEO Audrey Copeland told the full room ahead of NAPA’s Government Affairs and Engineering, Research, & Technology teams’ presentations.
Attendees joined the broader TCC programming where transportation leaders from across the country heard remarks from Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and congressional leaders on the path forward for reauthorization.
“Almost everybody loves infrastructure,” Duffy told the crowd. “They like roads and bridges and airports and safe airplanes and rail. They love everything you guys do.”
The message throughout the day was consistent: Congress must pass a robust, multi-year surface transportation bill as soon as possible – a message Duffy echoed.
“We need to have surface transportation funded,” he said.
NAPA and fellow TCC members are calling on Congress to enact robust investment, fix the Highway Trust Fund, streamline project delivery, improve work zone safety, and build infrastructure designed to last.
Building on this energy, attendees took to Capitol Hill May 13 to meet with lawmakers and staff to outline industry priorities and affirm the case for a robust highway bill.
“You being here and doing this is one of the most impactful things you can do for surface transportation,” Copeland said to the entire TCC audience.
With the reauthorization deadline approaching and bipartisan energy building, NAPA remains committed to working alongside TCC partners to secure the comprehensive highway bill our nation’s roads, workers, and communities deserve.
