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.

Our organizations represent a diverse set of economic sectors that form the backbone of the American economy—agriculture, energy, construction, forestry, manufacturing, transportation, and other sectors. Through the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the United States has made the most significant investment in infrastructure since the New Deal. The Act will promote projects that will enable the movement of people, goods, information, and energy to support the American economy. To ensure that the Act succeeds, further efforts are needed.

We are writing to share the perspective of the aggregates, cement and concrete industries about the possible impacts of the America’s Revegetation and Carbon Sequestration (ARC) Act. We represent more than 600,000 workers at thousands of aggregates, cement and concrete businesses across the country who manufacture and deliver critical materials for our nation’s built environment. Our members collectively serve every residential, commercial, and public works project in the United States and generate more than $100 billion in economic activity each year.

S. 180 would set bad policy by permanently banning aggregate production on tracts of federal land in central New Mexico. These areas contain some of the only available aggregates supply located near the Albuquerque market. Enacting this ban sets bad precedent and would severely diminish the ability for communities to access key resources that are necessary for building roads, bridges, renewable energy projects, schools, hospitals, homes, and businesses.

As your committee understands well, federal infrastructure investment at all levels is critical for our nation’s economic recovery and water infrastructure projects are no different, especially those vital projects covered by the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) chief reports via the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) reauthorizations. Robust federal investment in water infrastructure would put tens of thousands of Americans back to work and improve the daily lives of millions of Americans regarding navigable waterway projects, shoreline protection, flood mitigation and so much more.

As you work to advance the mission of the Department of Interior, I wanted to take this opportunity to share our views on issues aggregates operators are confronting as we work to build America’s infrastructure.

As you work to advance new technologies and solutions, we would urge for careful consideration to not limit critical research dollars that promote one material over others through select marketing activities. Projects should be decided on by their merits and decisions should be left to engineers and those with technical expertise in designing and executing projects. This will ensure only the best solutions, that truly solve our infrastructure challenges, are delivered at the best expense of the taxpayers