With the reopening of the federal government, congressional activity is expected to pick back up on the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. The current surface transportation law was passed under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in November of 2021 and expires on September 30, 2026.
This legislation will decide how hundreds of billions of federal dollars are invested in the nation’s infrastructure over the next several years. It sets the overall funding levels, program structures and policy priorities that guide how federal, state and local governments plan, design and construct transportation projects across the country. Representative Sam Graves of Missouri, the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, recently stated that he would prefer to pass the bill out of the House in the spring to begin talks with the Senate on final passage in late 2026 before expiration.
For the precast concrete industry, the surface transportation bill is especially significant. Federal infrastructure funding drives a large share of demand by state and local governments for precast products, including culverts, stormwater and wastewater systems, bridge components, and other key elements of the national transportation network. Decisions made in this bill influence which types of materials are preferred, how projects get delivered, and the level of investment available for both maintenance and new construction. Chairman Graves has publicly said that this next round of transportation legislation should be a “traditional” bill focused on roads and bridges, not on bike lanes or train stations, as were the examples cited by the Chairman.
NPCA’s government affairs team continues to represent the industry’s interests as these discussions move forward by engaging directly with members of Congress, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and allied industry groups to ensure that precast concrete is recognized for its proven performance, quality, and long-term value.
As the legislative process resumes, NPCA will continue monitoring developments closely and communicating with policymakers about the importance of precast concrete. NPCA will also track regulatory and implementation measures that could affect material specifications and market access for precast products. NPCA remains fully engaged to ensure that the precast concrete industry’s priorities are reflected in the nation’s next major investment in transportation infrastructure.
Mathew Morgan is a Partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, a full-service national business law firm providing advice in all the areas required to do business in today’s marketplace. Matt provides companies and trade associations with strategic, legislative and political counsel on a variety of business-related issues, including taxation, trade/tariffs and appropriations matters. Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Matt served in the White House from 2017-2020 as the chief counsel to the Vice President and as a deputy assistant to the President.