In a letter to U.S. senators, the National Society of Professional Surveyors, geospatial firms, AEC firms, and transportation entities urged all senators to support the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), saying it will “provide meaningful economic and quality of life enhancements to communities across the country.” 

In all, 76 firms urged passage of the bill. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 would invest record amounts of funding in our nation’s highway programs to improve and repair our highways and bridges, tackle climate change and resilience, and enhance safety and mobility for the American people. The bill, which has growing bipartisan support, authorizes $303.5 billion out of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) over five years, and the IIJA appropriates an additional $47.272 billion for federal highway programs. The text of the letter and supporting organizations follows:

Dear Senators:

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) represents an opportunity to provide meaningful economic and quality of life enhancements to communities across the country and to build for the future. The investments made in the Senate package would facilitate long overdue repairs and improvements to our roads, bridges, rail, and public transportation systems, as well as investing in airports, ports, broadband, and water systems.

The undersigned organizations encourage all senators to support the legislation.

The bipartisan IIJA would have far-reaching benefits. The investments would create new jobs through project construction in the short term, and provide improved safety, mobility, and quality of life for decades to come. Taken together, the range of improved outcomes for all residents and businesses would help ensure a sound recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

By including a five-year reauthorization of federal highway, public transportation, and passenger rail programs, the agreement would also ensure states and localities have much-needed funding and policy certainty to proceed with planned projects. These programs are currently operating under an extension set to expire Sept. 30, underscoring the need for prompt Senate action.

We are grateful for this generational investment in transportation infrastructure and ask for your support on all procedural votes and final passage of the IIJA when it reaches the Senate floor.

Sincerely,

American Road & Transportation Builders Association

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Agricultural Retailers Association

Airports Council International–North America

American Apparel & Footwear Association

American Concrete Pavement Association

American Concrete Pipe Association

American Concrete Pumping Association

American Council for Capital Formation

American Council of Engineering Companies

American Foundry Society

American Highway Users Alliance

American Institute of Steel Construction

American Iron and Steel Institute

American Public Transportation Association

American Public Works Association

American Rental Association

American Securities Association

American Society of Civil Engineers

American Society of Concrete Contractors

American Society of Landscape Architects

American Subcontractors Association

American Traffic Safety Services Association

American Trucking Associations

Associated Equipment Distributors

Associated General Contractors of America

Associated Wire Rope Fabricators

Association for the Improvement of American Infrastructure Association of American Railroads Association of Equipment Manufacturers

Auto Care Association

Building America’s Future

Coalition for America’s Gateways & Trade Corridors

Community Transportation Association of America

Construction & Demolition Recycling Association

Corn Refiners Association

Design-Build Institute of America

FP2, formerly the Foundation for Pavement Preservation Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association Industrial Minerals Association – North America Institute of Makers of Explosives Institute of Transportation Engineers

International Society of Explosive Engineers

International Union of Operating Engineers

Laborers International Union of North America

Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association

National Asphalt Pavement Association

National Association of County Engineers

National Association of Home Builders

National Association of Remodeling Industry

National Association of Surety Bond Producers