PCA Lauds House Passage of FAA Reauthorization, Urges Senate to Act Swiftly

Washington, D.C., September 26, 2018 – The Portland Cement Association (PCA) commended the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a five-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which includes provisions supported by the cement industry. PCA urged the U.S. Senate to pass the bill before FAA authorization expires on Sep. 30.

“The House has reauthorized the FAA, which ensures America’s aviation system can meet its current and future challenges,” said PCA President and CEO Michael Ireland. “We look forward to swift action by the senate. Cement manufacturers are especially thankful the legislation reauthorized the National Airport Pavement & Materials Research Center. This allows the FAA to partner with universities and non-profits to research and deploy stronger and more durable airfield pavement technology that saves money and expand airport growth. We expect cement will be a critical part of that solution.”

In addition, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) was included in the FAA legislative package. DRRA seeks to address the rising costs of disasters and reform the federal disaster program to ensure communities are better prepared in the future. DRRA is focused on pre-disaster planning and mitigation. PCA is especially pleased that DRRA highlights the importance of building durable evacuation routes.

“Natural disasters like Hurricane Florence are a reminder that more should be done to protect vulnerable communities going forward,” said Ireland. “The Disaster Recovery Reform Act makes the proactive investments America needs to limit the damage these extreme weather events can have. The Cement industry is very supportive of this approach and looks forward to working with federal and local officials during the implementation process.”

To learn more about how concrete makes America’s infrastructure strong, visit: http://www.cement.org/infrastructure. 

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The Portland Cement Association (PCA), founded in 1916, is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America’s cement manufacturers.  PCA members represent 98 percent of U.S. cement production capacity and have facilities in all 50 states.  The association promotes safety, sustainability, and innovation in all aspects of construction, fosters continuous improvement in cement manufacturing and distribution, and generally promotes economic growth and sound infrastructure investment.  For more information, visit www.cement.org.