Skip to main content

AEM “great disappointment” over US Highway Bill delay

A SENIOR American manufacturing association figure has renewed his call for Congress to pass a Highway Bill – after a 90-day extension of the US federal surface transport programme was agreed by the House of Representatives. Speaking as president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and on behalf of US equipment manufacturers and the I Make America campaign, AEM president Dennis Slater said: "It has been 911 days and eight extensions since the last highway bill expired.
April 11, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A SENIOR American manufacturing association figure has renewed his call for Congress to pass a Highway Bill – after a 90-day extension of the US federal surface transport programme was agreed by the House of Representatives.

Speaking as president of the 1100 Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and on behalf of US equipment manufacturers and the I Make America campaign, AEM president Dennis Slater said: "It has been 911 days and eight extensions since the last highway bill expired. It is a great disappointment to the nearly 21,000 supporters of the I Make America campaign, U.S. equipment manufacturers, and their tens of thousands of employees that Congress must resort for the ninth time to a short-term extension to prevent our nation's critical transportation programs from shutting down.

"Because current funding expires on March 31st, there is unfortunately no choice but for Congress to pass the ninth extension of this vital national program. But enough is enough. The House must act immediately within this extension period to pass its highway bill and move to conference with the Senate.”

Slater said a Highways Bill would “immediately” create American jobs, and drive US economic growth and global competitiveness for the long-term.

Supported by the AEM’s 850 plus member companies, the I Make America campaign for a Highway Bill is also said by AEM to be backed by the memberships of like-minded associations, American business owners, and citizens and local elected officials across the US.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Funding programme for US roads and bridges
    November 9, 2021
    A new funding programme for US roads and bridges will now commence.
  • AEM predicts optimistic outlook
    February 23, 2012
    A new report from the US-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) predicts a slight increase in machine sales until 2013.
  • AEM reports stronger market conditions
    May 28, 2012
    According to the latest figures from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), exports of US construction machinery rose 15% in the January-June period compared to 2009. Exports of equipment increased in the second quarter of 2010, reaching a total value of US$7.4 billion. The AEM off-road equipment manufacturing trade group consolidates US Commerce Department data with other sources into global trend reports for members.
  • Astec Industries executive to head AEM in 2014
    November 8, 2013
    Astec Industries executive Richard Patek is to head the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) trade group in 2014. Patek, Group President Aggregate and Mining at Astec Industries, is among the AEM’s newly-elected officers and directors for 2014, following a vote at the North American-based association’s recent annual meeting. The full list of newly elected AEM officers for 2014 are Chair Richard Patek, Group President Aggregate and Mining of Astec Industries; Vice Chair Robert Kolb, Vice Presid