The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) appreciates the opportunity to respond to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS) Request for Information (RFI) on the future of transportation data, statistics and analytical tools. NSSGA represents the producers of crushed stone, sand and gravel — the aggregates that form the literal foundation of the nation’s roads, bridges, airports and buildings. Aggregates are the largest freight commodity in the United States by weight.

The federal government’s investment in our nation’s transportation network provides immense value to the American public. Accordingly, we urge you to preserve the FY 2026 funding levels enacted for all federal transportation programs, including those funded through the Highway Trust Fund and advance appropriations, as part of any short-term government funding measure or surface transportation program extension.

The American Cement Association, National Asphalt Pavement Association, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, and National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association collectively represent the construction materials industry that is essential to building, modernizing, and maintaining the nation's transportation infrastructure. Together, our members produce and supply the cement, concrete, asphalt, and aggregates that form the backbone of America's highways, bridges, airports and airfields, rail and transit systems, and freight networks.

The undersigned organizations, representing a broad cross-section of stakeholders, urge the House of Representatives to promptly consider and advance the BUILD America 250 Act. The legislation reflects the longstanding bipartisan recognition that a safe and reliable transportation system is essential to the nation’s economy and quality of life.

On behalf of the Work Zone Safety Coalition, representing contractors, engineers and safety providers united by an urgent mission to protect roadway workers and the traveling public, we write to voice our strong support for the critical work zone safety policies included in the BUILD America 250 Act. For too long, work zones have been among the most dangerous places on America's roads. On average, a work zone crash occurs in America about every five minutes, according to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse.

On behalf of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) and our nearly 500 member companies, I write to thank you for introducing the bipartisan BUILD America 250 Act and to commend the Committee for its work on this critical legislation. NSSGA represents the producers and suppliers of crushed stone, sand and gravel: the essential construction materials that form the literal foundation of every highway, bridge, and transit project in America.

The American Cement Association, National Asphalt Pavement Association, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, and the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, which collectively represent construction materials that are essential to building surface transportation projects across the country, endorse the bipartisan BUILD America 250 Act. We encourage all members to vote yes and pass this critical legislation out of Committee.

The Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), comprised of 34 trade organizations and labor unions, expresses strong opposition to proposals under discussion to suspend the federal gas tax. Such plans would have limited, if any, impact on consumer prices, and risk driving up costs on projects designed to improve every community across the country. The federal gas tax is the foundation of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which supports the nation's transportation improvements.

The undersigned organizations write to express our strong support for preserving the longstanding, state-administered, federally supported, formula-based federal transportation program that has efficiently delivered safety and mobility projects and programs. Currently, state departments of transportation (state DOTs) direct about 85 percent of federal highway formula dollars, with local governments directing 15 percent of the formula dollars.

The American Cement Association, National Asphalt Pavement Association, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, and the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association are writing to share the perspective of the industries producing the construction materials used to build surface transportation projects. We would like to provide our perspectives on the market-driven innovations occurring in the construction materials space and how these innovations can be advanced through surface transportation reauthorization.