Rermag 1149 Startusupusa Capitol Hill Web 1
Rermag 1149 Startusupusa Capitol Hill Web 1
Rermag 1149 Startusupusa Capitol Hill Web 1
Rermag 1149 Startusupusa Capitol Hill Web 1
Rermag 1149 Startusupusa Capitol Hill Web 1

AED, AEM Lead Rally on Capitol Hill for Infrastructure Spending

Oct. 30, 2009
A large caravan of bulldozers and other construction equipment displaying huge banners paraded through the streets of Washington last week to send a message to lawmakers that they must act now to stop the job bleeding in the construction equipment industry. Start Us Up USA! organizers, joined by House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and other allies, also staged a rally on the National Mall against a backdrop of idle construction equipment and a sea of orange flags to emphasize the 550,000 jobs lost in the industry and encourage the federal government not to delay enactment of multi-year highway legislation.

A large caravan of bulldozers and other construction equipment displaying huge banners paraded through the streets of Washington last week to send a message to lawmakers that they must act now to stop the job bleeding in the construction equipment industry. Start Us Up USA! organizers, joined by House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and other allies, also staged a rally on the National Mall against a backdrop of idle construction equipment and a sea of orange flags to emphasize the 550,000 jobs lost in the industry and encourage the federal government not to delay enactment of multi-year highway legislation.

“Across the country, time is running out for the men and women of this industry as job losses continue to mount and prevent a broader economic recovery,” said Toby Mack, president and CEO of the Associated Equipment Distributors, co-sponsor of the Start Us Up USA! campaign along with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

Dennis Slater, AEM president, said “New transportation funding is a critical component to spurring a recovery of the construction equipment industry nationwide and improving our nation’s infrastructure.”

While recession abates for some sectors of the U.S. economy, the construction equipment recovery remains stalled in a deep depression, Mack and Slater said, with 8 percent of all jobs lost during the recession coming from this industry.

The current law — SAFETEA-LU — that funds the majority of U.S. transportation investments expired Oct. 31 and the administration and Congress have yet to move on a multi-year reauthorization bill. Leaders of the Start Us Up USA! campaign are calling for enactment of a new transportation bill before the spring construction season begins in early 2010. Congressman Oberstar urged his colleagues to take immediate action on the highway bill rather than seek lengthy delays that would have severe consequences for the U.S.’ already congested and failing transportation network.

Ray Pourpore, who leads the National Construction Alliance, an affiliation of labor unions, and Bill Cox, president of Corman Construction in Maryland representing the Transportation Construction Coalition also participated in the rally.

Rally organizers pointed out that the construction equipment industry, including manufacturing, distribution and equipment service facilities has lost 37 percent of its workforce, compared to 16 percent in automobile manufacturing and 6 percent in finance and insurance.

“In this economy, each day is a challenge to keep our workers employed,” said Monty Boyd, president and CEO of Louisville, Ky.-based Whayne Supply Co., who attended the rally. “Passing this highway bill will make a huge difference for our roads and infrastructure and it’s the best way to put people back to work.”

To view a short video of rally highlights, visit http://www.youtube.com/user/StartUsUpUSA.