WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 5, 2026 — American Foundations, a project of Common Sense America (CSA), sent a letter to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry ahead of his 2026
State of the State address, calling on him to take key steps that help the state strengthen domestic cement production and enhance critical infrastructure.
“Cement is a quiet but essential part of Louisiana’s success story, supporting highways and parish roads, bridges and overpasses, levees and floodwalls, port facilities, refineries, export terminals, schools, churches, and homes,” wrote Crim. “Nationally, U.S. cement production has recently declined while imports have supplied a growing share of demand, even as states like Louisiana continue to repair aging assets and prepare for future growth and storms.”
To improve domestic production, the letter urges state leaders to use American-made cement in publicly funded projects.
“State purchasing practices are practical tools to support both safety and economic strength,” Crim continued. “Prioritizing American made, certified cement in publicly funded projects helps ensure taxpayer dollars reinforce domestic jobs and proven, high-quality materials.”
Crim concluded: “CSA would welcome the chance to work with your administration, legislative leaders, and stakeholders across Louisiana on these common sense solutions so that the core materials underpinning the state’s future are produced here at home and used to build a stronger, more resilient Louisiana for years to come.”
See below for the full letter.
The Honorable Jeff Landry
Governor of Louisiana
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Dear Governor Landry:
Common Sense America (CSA) appreciates your focus on growing jobs, enhancing public safety, and strengthening Louisiana’s infrastructure as the state builds on recent economic momentum and continues recovering from repeated storms. Louisiana’s position as a Gulf energy hub and home to nationally significant ports puts the state at the center of America’s industrial and trade future.
CSA’s mission is to advance American prosperity, security, and self-reliance through practical, common-sense policies that reinforce domestic supply chains. In Louisiana, that means working together to ensure the infrastructure that supports communities and industry alike is built on strong, American foundations.
Making Permitting a Louisiana Advantage
Louisiana is well positioned to turn its permitting system into a strength rather than a hurdle. For years, complicated and unpredictable reviews have slowed mining, energy, and infrastructure projects across the country, making it harder to build the facilities and networks our economy needs. A balanced approach in Louisiana could include clear statutory or administrative timelines, a single lead agency for major projects, and concurrent rather than strictly sequential reviews among relevant state agencies.
Reducing uncertainty would give investors and communities confidence while supporting projects that expand domestic capacity, including cement and concrete plants, manufacturing expansions, and port and energy infrastructure that are essential to Louisiana’s growth. In a competitive landscape, states that offer predictable, efficient permitting are the ones that attract and keep major investments, and Louisiana has an opportunity to be among the leaders.
American Foundations for Louisiana’s Future
Cement is a quiet but essential part of Louisiana’s success story, supporting highways and parish roads, bridges and overpasses, levees and floodwalls, port facilities, refineries, export terminals, schools, churches, and homes. Nationally, U.S. cement production has recently declined while imports have supplied a growing share of demand, even as states like Louisiana continue to repair aging assets and prepare for future growth and storms.
Recent assessments of Louisiana’s roads and bridges show meaningful progress but also underscore the scale of ongoing needs, including many bridges rated in poor or obsolete condition and substantial costs to drivers from congestion and roadway wear. These realities point not only to challenges but also to an opportunity: to pair your administration’s focus on economic development and resilience with policies that keep critical projects on schedule and ensure they are built with dependable, high-quality materials.
Cement and concrete already contribute significantly to Louisiana’s economy, adding over $1 billion annually, supporting roughly 2,500 jobs, and generating more than $40 million in state tax revenue. These industries provide the materials needed to modernize roads and bridges, keep freight moving, and rebuild flood protection, evacuation routes, and public facilities after storms.
Smart State Purchasing and Quality Standards
Working together, state leaders and industry can help ensure Louisiana’s infrastructure foundation remains strong. Encouraging investment in domestic cement capacity and logistics and planning ahead so major infrastructure and industrial projects are not constrained by preventable materials shortages, will help keep the state’s growth and recovery on track. At the same time, taking a cautious approach to overreliance on imported cement where quality, origin, or availability may be uncertain is critical in a hurricane prone state where infrastructure performance is directly tied to public safety and economic stability.
State purchasing practices are practical tools to support both safety and economic strength. Prioritizing American made, certified cement in publicly funded projects helps ensure taxpayer dollars reinforce domestic jobs and proven, high-quality materials. Requiring importers who supply cement for public works to provide mill certifications would add transparency and help protect project quality, without limiting the state’s ability to source competitively.
Looking ahead, recognizing cement as a core component of Louisiana’s critical infrastructure in state planning and economic development discussions would support thoughtful, long-term decisions. Coordinating infrastructure priorities with the capacity of local cement and aggregate supply and streamlining state level approvals for new or modernized facilities, can keep essential work on schedule and support stable, good paying jobs.
CSA would welcome the chance to work with your administration, legislative leaders, and stakeholders across Louisiana on these common‑sense solutions so that the core materials underpinning the state’s future are produced here at home and used to build a stronger, more resilient Louisiana for years to come.
Sincerely,
Steve Crim
President and Founder
Common Sense America
About American Foundations
American Foundations, a project of Common Sense America, is committed to ensuring that our nation’s infrastructure is built on strong, reliable cement — made right here at home. Learn more at: strongamericanfoundations.org.
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