The Associated Equipment Distributors is demanding bipartisan action from Congress to invest in infrastructure.
Michael Vazquez, the association’s director of membership, made such a plea “in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol” in mid May, noted a news item on the IEDA website.
“For the last decade, the construction industry has been plagued with uncertainty due to inaction on a long-term infrastructure plan,” said Vazquez, of MECO Miami Inc., during a press conference. “In particular, the Highway Trust Fund’s inadequate resources prevent states from planning significant projects, which, in turn, means contractors aren’t investing in new equipment,
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), a senior member of the House Ways & Means Committee
hindering economic growth for equipment dealers.”
The remarks echoed the sentiment of AED members across the U.S., the news released noted.
Several other construction industry leaders joined Vazquez at the press conference as did Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), a senior member of the House Ways & Means Committee, and Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), the top Republican on the House Highway & Transit Subcommittee.
The Highway Materials Group, a coalition of trade associations such as the AED that represent companies supplying equipment and materials to help build the country’s infrastructure, organized the event. The AED has 450 member companies that generate combined sales of $54 million in the U.S. and Canada, according to the association website, http://aednet.org.