Dec. 8, 2015 – Each year, Rock Products asks its readers to participate in a year-end Benchmark Survey designed to gauge reader response to questions regarding production, operations and other issues of interest to stone producers. Please take this year’s survey and help us gather the critical information we need to give the industry a better understanding of where it is at the…
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FINALLY!
Dec. 4, 2015 – Congress finally got it right – almost. Last night’s passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or the FAST Act, sets America’s transportation industry on the fast-track to success. The five-year, $300+ billion bill goes a long way in sending a signal of confidence to construction markets. Make no mistake, this will be an economic shot…
Read MoreIt’s Happening FAST
Dec. 1, 2015 – Today, a congressional conference committee signed off on the surface transportation reauthorization conference report, according to the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA). The new bill is H.R. 22, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), which is slated to provide approximately $281 billion investment over five years in our nation’s surface transportation infrastructure. The U.S.…
Read MoreClinton Calls for Infrastructure Investment
Nov. 30, 2015 – There has been very little serious talk on the presidential campaign trail about infrastructure spending. But Hillary Clinton’s campaign said recently she would allocate $250 billion to direct investment by the federal government in crumbling roads, bridges, public transit and airports. An additional $25 billion would fund a national infrastructure bank. The bank would support $225 billion…
Read MoreFunding Levels Discussed
Nov. 23, 2015 – According to the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released its estimates of the costs of the House surface transportation reauthorization facilitating a serious discussion by the conferees of the funding levels of the final bill. The House accepted the Senate DRIVE Act pay-fors totaling $47 billion and funding three…
Read MorePROGRESS: Transportation Bill Moves Forward
Nov. 18, 2015 – The Conference Committee on surface transportation reauthorization holds its first public meeting today. Committee members will offer opening statements and, undoubtedly pledge to work collaboratively. Pam Whitted, senior vice president, legislative and regulatory affairs for the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, commented, “We are pleased that negotiations on a final bill are underway. With our Highway…
Read MoreHouse Bill a Long Time Coming
Nov. 5, 2015 – This just in from the “It’s about damn time” department. After years of temporary authorizations and days of debate on more than 100 amendments, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a six-year surface transportation reauthorization by a bipartisan vote of 363-64. The historic $339-billion measure allocates about $40 billion per year to repair the nation’s failing infrastructure,…
Read MoreBig Legislative Week
Nov. 1, 2015 – This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to consider its version of a six-year highway bill, the Surface Transportation Reform and Reauthorization Act, H.R. 3763. The Rules Committee will wade through 250 amendments, deciding which will get called up and which won’t be allowed. Also, the U.S. Senate will begin consideration of S. 1140, a…
Read MoreExcavate Your Pumpkin
Oct. 28, 2015 – As you get ready to help your kids carve their Halloween pumpkin, why settle for carving a boring triangular eyes and nose like you always do.
Read MoreRocking It in Ohio
Oct. 26, 2015 – Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) recently toured a Hilltop Basic Resources facility near Cincinnati to meet with local aggregates producers, members of the Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Association, National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) and the Highway Materials Group. Pat Jacomet, president of the state aggregates group, and John Steele, president of Hilltop Basic Resources and vice chairman of NSSGA’s ROCKPAC, were…
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