NAPA addresses legislative priorities in letter to Biden administration

The National Asphalt Pavement Association expressed its desire to work with President-elect Joe Biden and the incoming administration to address a range of infrastructure-related topics.

In its letter sent to the incoming Biden administration, NAPA addressed building environmentally-friendly pavements; creating and sustaining jobs in the highway construction industry; and stabilizing the economy as a whole.

“There are many paths for NAPA to work in partnership with the Biden administration,” says Audrey Copeland, NAPA president and CEO. “Our letter provides the roadmap for partnership, and we stand ready to work with the transition team and the Biden administration to innovate, rebuild and expand our nation’s surface transportation infrastructure.”

According to NAPA, its top legislative priority remains the passage of a long-term surface transportation authorization bill that increases highway funding and implements a permanent, user-based revenue stream for the Highway Trust Fund.

NAPA’s letter also emphasizes the fact that asphalt is the most recycled product in America. Furthermore, two of NAPA’s seven legislative proposals focus specifically on sustainability, including research on the potential for recycling plastic in asphalt and the role of asphalt pavements in a low-carbon transportation network.

“NAPA and its members are committed to building and maintaining our infrastructure with the utmost goal of recycling, sustainability and concern for our environment and resources,” says Jay Winford Jr., NAPA chairman and president of Prairie Contractors. “In 2019, the asphalt pavement industry reclaimed 97 million tons of RAP for future use. This saved 2.4 million metric tons of CO2e, the equivalent to removing 520,000 passenger vehicles from the road. Asphalt is the preeminent solution for sustainable highways now and into the future.”