As Congress moves to consider H.R. 4373, which would provide additional support for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, we applaud the inclusion of S. 3011/H.R. 5735, a measure to provide greater flexibility to American Rescue Plan (ARP) state and local resources. The ARP law provided $350 billion in relief funds and $10 billion in capital improvement assistance, which was critical to state and local governments managing pandemic-induced budget shortfalls.

I’m writing on behalf of the Opportunity America Jobs and Careers Coalition to express our support for the committee’s efforts to advance reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The Opportunity America Jobs and Careers Coalition is a Washington-based business group focused on job training and workforce development. Members include employers and employer associations from a broad range of industries experiencing skills mismatches and worker shortages – IT, manufacturing, construction, retail and hospitality, among others.

The National Stone, Sand, & Gravel Association (NSSGA) respectively submits this letter to thank Chairs Peter DeFazio and Donald Payne, Ranking Members Sam Graves and Rick Crawford, and the Members of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials (Committee) for holding this important and timely hearing on “Stakeholder Views on Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization” on March 8, 2022. NSSGA strongly supports the funding of the STB to ensure it can properly and effectively carry out its statutory duties.

On behalf of the 400 members of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, I want to thank you for holding today’s hearing on “Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) by the U.S. Department of Transportation” with Secretary Buttigieg. I would like to take this opportunity to share the viewpoints of our members on several critical priorities, as Congress and the administration work to implement the historic IIJA. NSSGA represents aggregates producers and those who manufacture equipment and services that support the construction industry.

The diverse group of construction and business associations undersigned below writes in strong support of the Fair and Open Competition Act (S. 403/H.R. 1284), sponsored by Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind. and Rep. Ted Budd, R-N.C. The Fair and Open Competition Act would prevent federal agencies and recipients of federal assistance from requiring or encouraging contractors to sign a controversial project labor agreement as a condition of winning a federal or federally assisted, taxpayer-funded construction contract.

We write in strong opposition to S. 3609, the “Gas Prices Relief Act of 2022” and the companion bill the “Gas Prices Relief Act” introduced in the House today. These bills will only further weaken the federal Highway Trust Fund and are shortsighted, since the gasoline excise tax is helping to pay for the historic “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)” just passed in November of last year. While we understand the pain Americans are feeling at the pump and throughout the economy due to rising inflation, a gas tax holiday is not the answer to this problem.

Suspending the federal gasoline tax in the name of “economic relief” is misguided and could undermine the recently enacted and bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The national associations and labor unions of the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) and the Americans for Transportation Mobility (ATM) coalition strongly oppose the S. 3609, the Gas Price Relief Act of 2022.

On behalf of the 400 members of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, I am writing to share our strong opposition to policies that would diminish revenue sources used to fund the Highway Trust Fund (HTF). Specifically, we call on Congress to reject S. 3609, which would suspend collection of the $00.184 -per-gallon federal user fee on gasoline. This funding is critical to support infrastructure projects which greatly benefit American families and businesses.

Our coalition of public and private sector stakeholders in the transportation industry first write to extend our appreciation for the robust transportation infrastructure funding included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate played a critical role in the development and passage of this historic legislation that will benefit the entire country.

The undersigned business trade groups call on Congress and the Administration to end efforts to pass the multi-trillion-dollar tax increase included in the Build Back Better (BBB) bill and focus instead on the challenges confronting American families and businesses today – rising prices, labor shortages, and ongoing supply chain constraints. Today’s Consumer Price Index report showing inflation rising at the fastest rate in forty years has our members understandably alarmed.