On behalf of the over 400 members of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), I am writing to express our support for the Water Resources and Development Act of 2022. NSSGA supports efforts to improve and invest in all levels of our nation’s infrastructure network, including critical navigable waterways that are essential to America’s economic competitiveness. We appreciate the committee working together to put forward a bipartisan reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act.

On behalf of the over 400 members of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), I am writing to express our opposition to S. 1769, the “Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act.” NSSGA represents aggregates producers and those who manufacture equipment and services that support the construction industry. As drafted, this legislation could severely impede future aggregate production in California, limiting critical building materials in Los Angeles County and the surrounding region.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides you with a unique opportunity to directly confront the supply-chain challenges that are adversely impacting the U.S. economy and the daily lives of all Americans. We urge you to dedicate as much as allowable by law in discretionary grants for FY 2022 to support projects that will facilitate and ease the movement of goods. Over the past two years, the supply chain has endured extreme slowdowns due to pandemic-related pressures.

The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (“NSSGA”) submits these written comments to the Surface Transportation Board (“STB” or “Board”) pursuant to the April 7, 2022, Notice from the STB in the proceeding referenced above, which permits “written comments by any other interested person” concerning freight service. NSSGA members use freight rail to supply aggregates, particularly in fast growing metropolitan areas. The Association of American Railroads (“AAR”) estimates that freight rail moved 1.1 million rail cars of stone, sand, and gravel in 2020.

As Congress returns to session, we urge immediate consideration and passage of H.R. 4373, which would provide additional support for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. The legislation also includes 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.

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.

We, the undersigned associations, represent both public and private sector organizations that produce and use the materials, products, and equipment necessary to build America’s infrastructure and employ millions of hard-working Americans in well-paying jobs.

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.