On July 13, 2023, The Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA) published a proposed rule, “Lowering Miners' Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory Protection.” (Silica Standard). The Silica Standard provides for a public comment period of 45-days, which expires at midnight eastern time on August 28, 2023. The National Stone Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) requests an extension of the public comment period for an additional 60-days and proposes that the public comment period be extended until midnight eastern time on October 27, 2023.

On behalf of the Jobs and Careers Coalition (JCC), we appreciate the HELP Committee’s July 27 executive session to markup five bills drafted to address America’s workforce shortages. Despite job gains, the disconnect between job openings and workers filling those jobs is such that there would be 1.9 million more workers on the payrolls if the Labor Force Participation Rate was the same as in February 2020. The JCC is a Washington, DC-based business group focused on job training and workforce development.

On behalf of the 450 members of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), we write to share our strong support for H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act and express our gratitude for advancing this crucial piece of legislation. We are delighted to see bi-partisan support for reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and endorsing aviation safety and infrastructure programs for the upcoming five years.

The 34 national associations and trade unions of the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) applaud the bipartisan efforts of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to reauthorize federal aviation programs and urge all members of the House of Representatives to support passage of H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act. H.R. 3935 would support increased airport capital improvements by raising Airport Improvement Program (AIP) investment levels for the first time in nearly 20 years.

The National Asphalt Pavement Association, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association, and Portland Cement Association would like to share our opposition to Perry Amendment #58 to the National Defense Authorization Act. Collectively, the cement, concrete, asphalt, and aggregates industries are working to reduce our carbon footprint. A critical part of that is advancing the use of lower-carbon versions of these critical construction materials that are market ready and recognized by consensus-based standards setting organizations.

On behalf of the 450 members of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), I am writing to express our strong support for the Reliable Rail Service Act.

On behalf of the 400 members of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), I am writing to share our support for S. 912, the Mining Schools Act of 2023 and thank you for your leadership in drafting this critical legislation.

The undersigned diverse group of construction and business associations strongly support the Fair and Open Competition Act (H.R. 1209/S. 537) ––introduced by Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind.––and urges members of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability to vote in support of this legislation at the markup expected to occur on June 12.

The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) strongly urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) (the agencies) to immediately issue a public, post-Sackett memo on approved jurisdictional determinations (AJDs) for areas that are clearly excluded from jurisdiction under the Sackett v EPA (Sackett) opinion. While we agree that an updated rule is needed for more complex aspects of the Supreme Court of the U.S.

Infrastructure investment spurs job creation and economic growth. To maximize this, the 34 organizations and labor unions of the Transportation Construction Coalition urge timely completion of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 transportation appropriations at levels authorized in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The second year of the IIJA is underway, and real-world improvements to safety, commute times, and freight movement are being seen nationwide.