WASHINGTON, D.C., January 28, 2026 — Common Sense America (CSA) President and Founder Steve Crim called on Congressional leaders to champion policies that support America’s manufacturing and domestic construction sectors as Congress deliberates the next surface transportation authorization bill.
“The investments that you will make through this critical piece of legislation have the potential to unleash a new era of American infrastructure development,” wrote Crim, who recently launched the American Foundations project last November. “To ensure that the benefits of that development are fully shared by American workers, it will be critical to include provisions that not only invest in transportation infrastructure but also rejuvenate America’s manufacturing sector.”
Despite previous Congressional efforts to support domestic manufacturing, the letter highlighted shortfalls in the Build America, Buy America Act, which omits cement.
Crim continued: “Cement and cementitious materials are excluded from that designation, raising serious questions about the quality of cement used in U.S. infrastructure projects. America’s aging infrastructure has received subpar ratings, and we urge Congress to invest in public infrastructure to secure our country, starting with our foundations.”
The letter concluded by highlighting the cement industry’s significant economic impact across the United States and offering a menu of potential reforms for Congress to consider in the upcoming surface transportation authorization bill.
“The cement and concrete industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in annual economic impact. Congress can help sustain economic growth here at home by ensuring that American infrastructure is built with high-quality U.S.-made cement,” Crim concluded.
See here for the full letter.