More than 400 construction leaders, labor representatives, contractors, and infrastructure advocates met with lawmakers as Congress prepares the next major surface transportation reauthorization

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the current surface transportation authorization expiring Sept. 30, 2026, the Transportation Construction Coalition convened in Washington this week to deliver a unified message for Congress: pass a timely, bipartisan reauthorization that keeps America building.

During the coalition’s two-day fly-in, more than 400 construction leaders, labor representatives, contractors, engineers, and infrastructure advocates met with lawmakers and congressional staff to underscore the importance of passing a long-term surface transportation reauthorization before the current law expires. Members highlighted the need for stable federal investment to improve safety, reduce congestion, strengthen freight reliability, and support economic growth nationwide.

“America’s transportation system supports everything from daily commutes and emergency response to supply chains and local economies,” the coalition said in a statement. “Timely action on the next transportation bill matters for every family, worker, commuter, and business that depends on safe, reliable infrastructure,”

Coalition members emphasized that uncertainty and delay come with real consequences. States rely on predictable federal funding to plan multi-year infrastructure projects, manage workforce and equipment needs, and keep construction costs under control. Delays in reauthorization can compress project timelines, increase costs, and slow vital safety improvements in communities throughout the country.

“America’s infrastructure projects operate on five-, 10-, and even 20-year timelines,” the coalition added. “States and contractors cannot plan major investments around short-term uncertainty. The longer Congress waits, the more projects cost and the harder it becomes to keep projects moving forward. A timely reauthorization will give states, communities, and employers the certainty needed to deliver the infrastructure improvements Americans are counting on.”

The fly-in began Tuesday with programming and remarks from national transportation leaders, including U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.). On Wednesday, coalition members met with lawmakers from both parties to discuss the coalition’s 2026 Principles for Surface Transportation Reauthorization and the importance of maintaining strong federal transportation investment.

About the Transportation Construction Coalition
The Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) is a partnership of 34 national associations and construction unions representing hundreds of thousands of individuals with a direct market interest in federal transportation programs. Established in July 1996 and co-chaired by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, the TCC focuses on federal budget and surface transportation program policy issues.

About the Coalition’s Principles for Reauthorization
The surface transportation reauthorization provides states, communities, and industries with the certainty required to plan, procure, and deliver critical transportation improvements safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. The Transportation Construction Coalition’s 2026 Principles for Surface Transportation Reauthorization are intended to inform and shape congressional development of the next bill before the current authorization expires on Sept. 30.

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