The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association has again joined with other transportation stakeholders and members of the Senate to urge Congress to gain consensus on transportation issues, pass a new bill and put thousands of hard working Americans back to work and to do it all by June 30.
During the rally, NRMCA and the other attendees made the case that passing a new, fully funded, multi-year transportation bill before the June 30 deadline will help to correct the dire economic path the ready mixed concrete industry and the transportation construction industry have been forced to travel. Providing the backdrop for the rally were four concrete mixer trucks courtesy of NRMCA producer member Titan America.
NRMCA Vice Chairman Bill Childs, president and CEO of Chaney Enterprises, Waldorf, Md., reminded Congress that:
- Since 2005, ready mixed concrete production (cubic yards) has declined by 57 percent
- Since the economic meltdown started in 2008, the ready mixed concrete industry has seen a reduction in employment of 40 percent
- Every $5 billion of federal investment leads to at least 1 million cubic yards of placed concrete
- Every $1 billion of federal investment directly or indirectly supports up to 47,500 construction industry jobs
- Every day that goes by without a new transportation bill:
- Less and less economic certainty exists
- U.S. competitiveness wanes
- Congestion builds
- Our current transportation system deteriorates
- Thousands of workers remain unemployed
- Fewer transportation projects can be realized
- Our nation’s roads become less safe
