Infrastructure
Embracing Infrastructure Support
The American Cement Association and our members advocate for robust policies that enhance the nation’s infrastructure.
We stress the urgent need for significant investments in transportation and infrastructure. ACA recognizes the importance of addressing funding challenges. We call on Congress to support long-term solutions and resilient infrastructure initiatives to achieve these goals.
Essential Information
Cement, the primary ingredient in concrete, is critical to the constructing of roads, bridges, tunnels, transit and rail systems, airports, runways, sidewalks, dams, spillways, flood protection, reservoirs, drinking and wastewater infrastructure, and residential and commercial buildings such as data centers. Due to its durability, concrete is essential for improving infrastructure resilience, especially in the face of increasing natural disasters. Understanding the role of cement in the construction of infrastructure is crucial to recognizing the importance of continued investment and policy supporting America’s infrastructure.
An increasing portion of the cement used in the United States is blended cements, a type of cement made by mixing traditional cement with other carefully selected materials such as limestone, fly ash, slag, or natural pozzolans. Blended cements increase domestic cement production by maximizing the efficiency of cement’s primary ingredient.
Metric tons of cement used annually in the U.S.
Years of typical service life for concrete roads
Solution: Resolve Legislative Shortfalls
Significant federal investment in infrastructure empowers states and communities to make much-needed investments critical to the country’s economic growth by ensuring the efficient movement of goods and people. Addressing the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund provides certainty for states and communities to move forward with projects to maintain their transportation assets as well as plan and build new transportation projects to meet future needs. Congress must address the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund, so states and communities can maintain their transportation assets and plan new projects.
Build Resilient Infrastructure
Due to its durability, concrete structures can withstand the increase in natural disasters impacting communities across the country. Concrete construction is a critical component of building resilient infrastructure that reduces rebuilding costs.
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The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act significantly increased funding for surface transportation but did not address the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. These shortfalls challenge the maintenance and expansion of surface transportation infrastructure. Sustainable funding solutions are essential for states and communities to keep their transportation assets in good repair and build new projects. ACA urges Congress to develop long-term strategies to secure the Highway Trust Fund’s solvency, ensuring continuous support for vital surface transportation infrastructure projects.
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Investments in surface transportation are crucial for economic growth and development: in the short-term by creating jobs and in the long-term by enhancing economic competitiveness, stimulating sustained job growth, improving traffic safety, reducing travel delays, and improving road and bridge conditions.
Roads and highways are the backbone of our economy; 90% of all goods and trillions of dollars of commodities arrive in stores via truck each year. Investment in surface transportation alleviates poor road conditions and congestion that delay the movement of goods and people.
Solution: Future-Proof Water Infrastructure
Legislative support is crucial for advancing water infrastructure projects. Congress must pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) every two years to authorize essential projects managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These projects are vital for flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, and navigation; cement is indispensable in constructing these facilities, including dams, locks, flood risk management, and navigation. Corps projects are also critical to the movement of cement to market.
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For every million dollars of water construction, approximately 132 metric tons of cement is consumed.
Cement supports a variety of water infrastructure projects crucial for flood management and water supply improvements. For instance, cement is used in constructing dams, spillways, reservoirs, ports, and wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities, ensuring durability and efficiency.
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Investing in water infrastructure is vital for public safety and economic stability. Historic investment in updating the nation’s drinking and wastewater infrastructure underscores the importance of regular legislative support to ensure communities can adapt to climate change and protect water resources. ACA supports the reauthorization of the drinking water and drinking water state revolving funds to help communities build wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.
Solution: Revive Airport Modernization Efforts
ACA applauds passage of the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024. FAA reauthorization ensures continued support for investing in the modernization of our nation’s airports and continued research and deployments to improve airfield pavements.
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The cement industry advocates funding the Airfield Pavement Technology Program. This program advances research and deployment to ensure airport runways remain safe, cost-effective, and capable of withstanding heavy aircraft traffic. Continued investment in this program is vital to advancing market-driven innovation in the performance of airfield pavements, runways, and taxiways.
Get in Touch
Katy Hartnett
Director, Infrastructure & Transportation