Following the successful vote in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to advance the bipartisan BUILD America 250 Act, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Executive Vice President Erin Streeter released the following statement:
"Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen and the full T&I Committee have offered a down payment on America's future growth with a thoughtful bill that recognizes the urgent infrastructure and permitting challenges facing manufacturers and the broader economy. Manufacturers depend on reliable roads, bridges, ports and rail infrastructure to move goods efficiently, strengthen supply chains and drive economic growth. When America's infrastructure moves, America's economy moves with it.
"Today, highway congestion and bottlenecked ports cost manufacturers nearly $40 billion annually, while freight delays drain 65 million hours of efficiency each year—driving up costs, slowing shipments and weakening competitiveness," he added. "And that's before accounting for America's broken permitting system, which costs manufacturers nearly $8 billion annually. Manufacturers asked Congress to begin the work toward developing long-term solutions for Highway Trust Fund solvency; invest in our mass transit, rail, aviation, maritime and water infrastructure; and pass comprehensive permitting reform — all with an eye toward keeping workers and the traveling public safe. The BUILD America Act answers that call and advances meaningful progress on these priorities. We commend the members of the committee for their work on this bill and urge Speaker Johnson to bring it to the floor so manufacturers can realize the benefits of this legislation through growth and innovation that will support our nation's broader economic prosperity. Because when manufacturing wins, America wins."
As Politico first reported in April, NAM called on Congress to make the next surface transportation reauthorization a robust $600 billion investment.
In February, NAM launched "Building to Win," a national campaign urging Congress to pass robust infrastructure investments and reauthorize critical federal highway programs. As part of the campaign's launch earlier this year, the NAM released a roadmap outlining four pillars for a robust surface transportation reauthorization:
• Continuing robust investment levels for federal infrastructure, including by developing long-term solutions for Highway Trust Fund solvency.
• Strengthening supply chains across transportation modes.
• Investing in water infrastructure that will support manufacturing growth and public health.
• Reforming burdensome permitting laws and regulations to ensure federal infrastructure investments are made efficiently and responsibly.
The NAM's policy roadmap also features original analysis:
• NAM's analysis shows that highway congestion costs manufacturers more than $25 billion annually and results in over 65 million hours of delays in freight carrying finished goods and critical inputs each year.
• The analysis also visualizes, through a new map, key logistics nodes intersecting with the nation's 25 worst freight bottlenecks, revealing more than 2 million hours of annual delays incurred and faced by manufacturers.
• In addition, the NAM estimates that congestion at container and bulk ports cost manufacturers more than $13 billion annually in carrying costs and demurrage charges.
In March, the NAM and the Foundation for American Innovation released a report showing America's broken permitting system costs manufacturers in America at least $7.9 billion each year.
Also, the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), representing more than 1,100 companies responsible for producing, building, and maintaining the majority of U.S. highway surfaces, expressed strong support for the BUILD America 250 Act, the surface transportation reauthorization package released by Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) on May 17, 2026.
Nationally, the asphalt pavement industry produces more than 400 million tons of asphalt pavement annually, supports about 350,000 jobs, and comprises roughly 94 percent of the market for our nation's 2.7 million miles of paved roads and highways. Passage of the BUILD America 250 Act is critical to the success of our nation's infrastructure and to advancing the safety, efficiency and condition of our national roadway network, the association said.
"The BUILD America 250 Act is a major step forward for our nation and the asphalt pavement industry," said Audrey Copeland, NAPA president and CEO. "The $580 billion primarily dedicated to core surface transportation is a landmark investment for the American people who rely on safe, reliable roads every day. This bill, with its enhanced work zone safety protections, is equally historic for the American workers who build our roads. The federal government has a critical role in our nation's highway network, and this bill delivers the certainty our industry needs to keep innovating, investing, and building. Our roads depend on the skilled workforce, continuous innovation, and quality materials the asphalt pavement industry provides. With its novel electric vehicle user fee and streamlined permitting reforms, this legislation ensures we can continue delivering the infrastructure that keeps America and its economy moving. We urge Congress to pass this bill swiftly so President Trump can sign it into law."
"The BUILD America 250 Act, with a $580 billion topline infrastructure investment and an array of meaningful policy reforms, reflects the deeply thoughtful work of House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves, Ranking Member Rick Larsen, their staffs, and the Committee members who worked tirelessly to introduce this bipartisan package," said Nile Elam, NAPA vice president of government affairs. "From protections for roadway workers to the first new Highway Trust Fund revenue stream in decades, this bill reflects the comprehensive, forward-thinking approach our infrastructure demands. We thank them for their work, and we will continue our collaboration with stakeholders to pass this bill out of the House as quickly and with as much bipartisan support as possible. With less than five months until current surface transportation programs expire, we must continue advancing this package and its companion bill in the Senate. As the BUILD America 250 Act moves through Congress, NAPA will continue highlighting the asphalt pavement industry's priorities and partnering with policy stakeholders until it is passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump."
