Hard Facts

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A Week to Lead! May 15, 2019

Show notes

It’s Infrastructure Week in Washington D.C., the seventh such event intended to call attention to the importance of roads, bridges, runways, ports, transit systems, and rail lines in the United States. A website created for the week says more than 500 organizations, companies, and cities are hosting over 100 events nationwide. One of those events was a news conference with the U.S. Capitol in the background, held under cloudy skies on Tuesday. Hard Facts covered the proceedings and reports on comments made in favor of a financing solution to benefit America’s transportation infrastructure. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) are featured along with several industry leaders.

Congressman Stauber Offers the PAID Act May 08, 2019

Show notes

Minnesota Congressman Pete Stauber discusses the White House meeting on transportation
funding and his introduction of the PAID Act, to require a Life Cycle Cost Analysis on any
transportation project with at least $30 million in federal funding support.

Political Building Blocks May 01, 2019

Show notes

The debate over how to fund infrastructure took an interesting turn this week. Is there a chance Washington can agree on a way to pay for projects? We briefly explore that idea, and then talk with Robert Thomas, president of the National Concrete Masonry Association, about his industry’s push for a commodity check-off program.

Mixing Politics, Steel, and Concrete Apr 24, 2019

Show notes

Reinforcing steel is a critical component of most concrete infrastructure projects. That’s why members of the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute are monitoring Congress as it debates the transportation funding question.

Danielle Kleinhans, the organization’s President and CEO, gives us a history lesson and explains why she is cautiously optimistic that Capitol Hill will find a solution.

Leaders Report on Hill Visits Apr 17, 2019

Show notes

As the weather warms in Washington, so does the rhetoric over how best to fund
transportation infrastructure. The only agreement seems to be there is no agreement on how
to raise the money to fund the work.

Hard Facts went along as members of the Portland Cement Association and the North American
Concrete Alliance visited House and Senate members, seeking their support for a solution.

Tom Beck, PCA Board of Directors Chairman; Ron Henley, PCA Board of Directors Vice
Chairman; Lori Tiefenthaler, Senior Director of Marketing at Lehigh Hansen; and West Virginia
Senator Shelley Moore Capito are the guests this week.

Leadership Wanted Apr 10, 2019

Show notes

Almost everyone with a vote in Congress agrees that funding transportation infrastructure is important. But the forecast for getting a funding package done this year depends on who answers the question.

Jerry Voigt is the President and CEO of the American Concrete Pavement Association. He tells us inaction, for him and his members, is not an option.

Congressional Crystal Ball Apr 02, 2019

Show notes

Every industry group impacted by the infrastructure debate is looking to have its voice heard on Capitol Hill. Dozens of associations, even those not working for transportation interests, are pushing Congress and the Administration for a solution to the funding crisis.

But will anything get done this year? Rachel Derby, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Portland Cement Association, discusses the legislative process and addresses the potential for action in the current Congress.

Senator Carper on Funding Realities Mar 27, 2019

Show notes

Delaware Senator Tom Carper explains the challenge Congress faces in finding an answer to the transportation infrastructure question, and tells us why states are often better at finding money for roads and bridges.

Keeping an eye on Washington Mar 20, 2019

Show notes

While Congress continues to debate the details of a transportation infrastructure bill, hardworking people in the concrete industry are keeping an eye on their deliberations and their progress. This week, Richard Mueller and Ty Gable take turns sharing their message with Hill policymakers.

Another Big Bang Theory Mar 13, 2019

Show notes

No matter how you pour it, concrete lasts a long time. It’s this durability that also makes concrete a good value when setting the budget for transportation projects.

Jeremy Gregory, executive director of the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub, talks this week about the Life Cycle Cost Analysis approach to planning transportation projects, which he says can return money-saving benefits to every road and bridge project.

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