A mixture of new and experienced perspectives was available on both sides of the table in the nation’s capital at the 2023 Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Fly-In, May 16 & 17.
“I think that’s really what always strikes me: The different perspectives that come to the table,” said The Shelly Company President Tim Tehan of his participation with 14 other OCA members and industry associates at the annual legislative event in Washington, D.C.
Mentioning the mix of seasoned and new legislative members that OCA members met with, Tehan added, “Both offer value in a different way. The new ones have fresh perspectives on the issues, where the former are more knowledgeable through their tenure and experience. But between the two, you end up having a really good discussion on the different issues.” Of Ohio’s 17 House of Representative and Senate members serving in the 118th U.S. Congress, four are serving their first terms.
OCA members representing eight companies, OCA President Chris Runyan and OCA Legislative Director Michelle Holdgreve attended the 25th annual event, which provides an opportunity for transportation construction industry members – from contractors, planning/design, safety and materials/manufacturing professionals – to meet with their U.S. House and Senate members to converse about investment and policy reform in surface transportation. OCA member companies participating in this year’s TCC Fly-In were Armstrong Steel Erectors Inc., BOCA Construction Inc., Capitol Tunneling Inc., Gerken Paving Inc., The Great Lakes Construction Co., Independence Excavating Inc., Kokosing Construction Co. Inc., Shelly & Sands Inc. and The Shelly Co.
“Our industry is so dependent and tied to federal and local infrastructure,” Tehan said. “I think, as a member of the industry, we have a vested interest in being a part of the political process and trying to shape the policy because it ultimately impacts us on a daily basis in our business. To play that role is to make sure our elected officials have a good understanding and accurate perspective on the business and the state of our infrastructure from those who use it and maintain it is important.”
The TCC Fly-In, co-hosted by OCA’s national affiliates American Road & Transportation Association (ARTBA) and Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), featured transportation advocates from all over the country, as the coalition consists of 34 national associations and construction labor unions. The two-day event included Tuesday’s Legislative Briefing, featuring transportation leaders from Capitol Hill and the Biden Administration and a Transportation Construction Industry Reception on the first day and visits with U.S. Congress members on Wednesday.
While the majority of TCC Fly-In participants walked the steps and halls of Capitol Hill to meet with their respective legislators, OCA provided a hiatus for its delegates. “… OCA invited all members of the Ohio delegation to a breakfast at the AGC Townhouse, which is located on Capitol Hill,” said The Great Lakes Construction Co. President George Palko. “This setting provided a relaxed setting, away from the halls of Congress, for our elected officials to meet with OCA members.”
“For the delegation, we wanted to do something first thing and very causal so they could start their day with us and be on their way before their day got too busy,” Holdgreve said of the breakfast meetings between OCA members and their federal legislators. “This seems to be the best approach for all – a limited time commitment but maximum facetime with the legislators.”
The OCA contingent met with 12 of Ohio’s 17 U.S. Congress members or their staffs at Wednesday’s breakfast and office visits, which included Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance and Representatives Troy Balderson, Shontel Brown, Bill Johnson, Mike Carey, Dave Joyce, Greg Landsman, Max Miller, Emilia Sykes and the staffs of Michael Turner and Brad Wenstrup.
Topics of discussion for Ohio’s contracting group included the Build America/Buy America regulations in the current federal infrastructure funding bill, Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA); Waters of the United States (see update on page 8); federal regulatory obstacles – such as permitting; the future of the Highway Trust Fund; and supply chain and other issues. (See Commentary on page 6, for more information on these topics.) Palko added that OCA members thanked their delegates for their support of the IIJA as well as provided examples of both benefits and challenges in the 2021 law and reminded them to continue utilizing OCA as a resource for industry-related matters that may come up during their terms in Congress.
“Michelle and Chris had done a great job of scheduling the legislators to come into AGC and spend some time talking about the major issues with us,” said Tehan, who was attending his first TCC Fly-In with OCA. “… By having them come to one central location, first, it is much more efficient; two, it’s a much more relaxed setting, I think, for us and them.
