A $580 billion reason why bipartisanship still works
by Nile Elam · The Washington TimesOPINION:
In Washington, bipartisanship has fallen out of fashion.
Working across the aisle is too often treated as a concession that you can’t get everything you want. In an era when major legislation routinely passes on party-line votes, the instinct to compromise has been worn away. And that’s a problem.
At the National Asphalt Pavement Association, we’ve long known that good infrastructure policy isn’t a Republican idea or a Democratic one. There is no such thing as a red highway or a blue bridge. Our long-held priorities don’t belong to a political party.
Our priorities benefit every citizen: robust federal investment in our nation’s millions of road miles, modernizing aging infrastructure without unnecessary delay and protecting the workers who build and maintain it every day.
The roads that move goods to market, connect communities to opportunity, and get workers home safely are party-neutral. So too is our shared commitment to keeping American moving.
That’s part of why the BUILD America 250 Act is such a significant moment — not just for what it does, but for how it came to be. Introduced jointly by House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo., and Ranking Member Rick Larsen, D-Wash., this bill is a product of genuine compromise: two leaders from opposite sides of the aisle who chose progress over politics.
The result, the BUILD America 250 Act, takes meaningful steps to advance the maintenance, safety and long-term strength of our nation’s surface transportation network, delivering for citizens who depend on it every day.
The BUILD America 250 Act Will Propel Our Economy
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This act’s $580 billion investment in America’s surface transportation network marks one of the most significant infrastructure commitments in decades, providing the resources and long-term certainty our nation needs. By concentrating on what a surface transportation bill should do — roads, highways, bridges, rail and transit — it reflects a disciplined recognition that federal infrastructure dollars are most effective when they’re focused on moving people and goods safely and efficiently.
Every state will receive increased federal funding for critical roadway, highway and bridge construction. From urban corridors in the Northeast to rural communities in the Southwest, these dollars will reach every corner of the country on projects big and small, spurring American progress for years to come.
• Every $1 billion in public infrastructure investment creates 13,000 jobs, according to the White House Council of Economic Advisers — this bill could support up to 7.5 million jobs nationwide.
• The average American driver lost a full work week to congestion in 2024, according to INRIX. That’s time away from family, work and life that an improved road network could help reclaim.
• Two-thirds of America’s $18 trillion in annual freight moves by truck, the U.S. Census Bureau found, meaning your in-store and online purchases travel the same roads this bill will strengthen.
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• And with USDOT reporting over 40,000 traffic fatalities, this is also an investment in keeping Americans safe.
For asphalt producers, equipment suppliers and the 350,000 workers who power this industry, this investment will provide resources and long-term certainty to plan, invest and grow. For states, it means reliable funding to address critical infrastructure needs. And for every American, it means first-class roads well into the future.
This Bill Is More Than a Number
The BUILD America 250 Act will advance national prosperity because it represents a renewed commitment to mobility, safety and economic growth. The funding matters and so does the vision behind it: a modern surface transportation network built to keep America competitive for decades to come.
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The bill improves work zone safety — one of our top priorities — with policies to keep roadworkers and drivers safe by adding training grants and a teen driver awareness program. We particularly support the interagency working group convening federal partners and industry stakeholders like asphalt producers and pavers, demonstrating this will be an ongoing area of emphasis.
The long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund has been a foundational concern for our industry for years, and we appreciate the recognition that all road users should contribute to the fund. Modest electric and hybrid vehicle user fees are a meaningful first step to address long-term solvency and enhance equity across all drivetrains.
Permitting reform is an issue we have pursued through multiple reauthorization cycles, with the urgency for meaningful action only growing. We welcome the bill’s pragmatic approach to removing bureaucratic obstacles that slow project delivery and consume resources that communities need in the field.
Our Work Is Just Getting Started
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There are only about four months remaining before the current surface transportation law expires. We must all get behind this bipartisan, multi-year reauthorization package, rather than reverting to short-term extensions.
Extensions aren’t neutral. Highway projects are planned years in advance, so states, contractors and communities rely on predictable funding to schedule projects, sign contracts and invest for the long term. When that certainty disappears, costs increase and project delays follow. During previous reauthorization gaps, states postponed hundreds of millions of dollars in projects — wasting time, squandering opportunity and compounding delays.
The stakes are even higher today. Highway construction costs have risen dramatically, and thus a flat extension of current funding levels would effectively mean fewer projects, slower progress and more deferred maintenance piling up.
The T&I Committee has shown the nation what’s possible when leaders choose collaboration. Now the full House, Senate and White House must match that example and deliver the long-term certainty, modernized network, and reliable infrastructure that Americans deserve.
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• Nile Elam is vice president for Government Affairs at the National Asphalt Pavement Association, which represents the interests of asphalt mixture producers, contractors, suppliers, and consultants to advance asphalt pavements as an essential part of sustainable transportation infrastructure that paves the way for thriving communities and commerce.