Washington, D.C., --  National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons issued this statement on the transportation, infrastructure and energy legislation introduced by House Republicans today: 

“Investment and updates to our nation's transportation infrastructure are absolutely essential to manufacturers' ability to compete and create jobs. Manufacturers need this legislation to help them in today's difficult economic climate, where they are facing unprecedented challenges and headwinds such as regulatory and tax burdens, as well as an out-of-date, inadequate transportation infrastructure that limits their ability to compete globally.

Manufacturers have long supported a multi-year bill to fund surface transportation investments. Improving our highways, bridges and tunnels and relieving congestion on the roadways will get Americans back to work immediately. Additionally, improving the permitting process will help reduce the bureaucratic burden that often delays infrastructure projects for years and unnecessarily increases construction costs. 

We are pleased that this legislation includes expanded domestic energy production. Access to affordable sources of energy is extremely important given that manufacturers use one-third of our nation's energy supply. Also, manufacturers continue to call for the swift approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. The project will immediately create 20,000 much-needed jobs. 

We welcome efforts by the House to create jobs through increased domestic energy production and investment in our transportation infrastructure. Manufacturers want to lead, and they can no longer afford to wait. Now is time for Congress to act to create jobs.”