TCC FLY-IN OCA Members ‘BRING BOOTS-ON-THE-GROUND EXPERIENCE’ to Policymakers

The nation’s 250th birthday aside, this is an important year to be watching the goings on in Washington, D.C. – especially with the current federal transportation program set to end this fall.

OCA members and leaders joined transportation advocates from across the U.S. in the nation’s capital May 12 & 13 to get a closer look at the legislative process and have a say in the next funding bill at the 2026 Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Fly-In.

It was the sixth time since TCC was formed in 1996 that the annual Fly-In coincided with the final year of a transportation program, as the current Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) expires September 30. The timing wasn’t lost on OCA participants.

“This year’s Fly-In carried a greater sense of urgency than previous years …,” remarked Armstrong Steel Erectors Inc. President Joe Hall, who this year attended his third TCC legislative event. “With the current transportation authorization set to expire, the majority of the conversation revolved around providing ways to stabilize the funding for the construction industry and the impact the lack thereof would have on the communities we build and improve.”

TCC consists of more than 30 national associations and construction unions that focus on federal budget and surface transportation program policy issues. The Coalition is co-chaired by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, which OCA serves as a state chapter for both organizations.

In its 30 years, TCC has played an advocacy role in the passage of five federal transportation funding bills:

• 1998: Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21)
• 2005: Safe, Accountable, Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFEETEA-LU)
• 2012: Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21)
• 2015: Fixing America’s Transportation Act (FAST)
• 2021: Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA)

This year’s TCC Fly-In attendees – including 10 OCA members, OCA President Chris Runyan and OCA Legislative Director Michelle Holdgreve – advocated for what they believe is essential for the next five-year transportation bill.

Those essentials included the need for:

• timely passage of the next highway bill to avoid funding uncertainty;
• returning federal funding to more traditional infrastructure projects – such as highways, bridges, rail, airports and ports;
• returning the federal program to previous discretionary funding levels;
• implementing a federal user-fee on electric and hybrid vehicle usage and other ways to boost Highway Trust Fund levels; and
• other topics.

“… This year there was increased emphasis on topics such as electric vehicles, workforce development and safety; the latter two are areas I am particularly passionate about,” said Gerken Paving Inc. Chief Administrative Officer Mandy Gerken-Snyder, who participated in her fifth Fly-In. “So, it was encouraging to see them receiving greater attention at the federal level.”

Meeting with eight of Ohio’s 17 federal legislators or members of their staffs, OCA’s representatives were pleased with what they heard from their U.S. Representatives and Senators.

“The engagement from Ohio’s delegation was incredible,” Hall said. “Obviously we would have loved to speak to each one of those 17 members. However, the ones we did meet I felt as if our time together was very insightful.”

“I felt that all of our Ohio legislators were supportive and understanding of the need for sustainable funding for infrastructure,” added A&A Safety Inc. President and 2026 OCA Chair Bill Luttmer. “I think the biggest challenge was to make sure that the transportation bill was focused solely on transportation needs and it was not to be watered down with other riders. These would then cause more challenge for passage.”

OCA members spoke with House Representatives Troy Balderson, Shontel Brown, Bob Latta, Max Miller, Emilia Sykes and David Taylor and staff members of Senators Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno. Ohio is fortunate to have several Congress members working on key committees involved with reauthorization of the transportation program.

Representatives Sykes and Taylor serve on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee; Sen. Husted works on the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee; and Sen. Moreno participates in both the Senate’s Commerce and Banking committees.

“The Ohio delegation is a strong group of lawmakers with a solid understanding of the challenges facing our industry.” Gerken-Snyder said. “This reflects in both their engagement and the continued efforts of industry members to keep them informed.”

While pleased with the federal legislators’ willingness to work toward the timely passage of the transportation bill, Luttmer said industry advocacy is still needed beyond the TCC Fly-In. “I think those that were on committees directly related to infrastructure were acutely aware of the issues,” he said. “I think for the rest, they have a 10,000-foot view and understanding.”

Of Ohio’s 15 U.S. Representatives and two U.S. Senators, 10 were U.S. Congress members during IIJA’s passage. (Editor’s note: Reps. Brown [District 11] and Mike Carey [District 15] were sworn into office the day prior to the House passage of the IIJA.)

A ‘Unique’ OCA Experience

OCA participants again utilized the AGC Townhouse near the U.S. Capitol Building to meet with their federal lawmakers.

“The Townhouse allows the legislators the ability to come in and out with us as a group as opposed to previous years where we spent navigating the hustle and bustle of Capitol Hill,” Hall said.

Luttmer, who has lobbied with other organizations amidst that hustle and bustle, said he enjoyed the quieter setting. “This was my first TCC Fly-In … What I felt was unique and different was the utilization of the AGC Headquarters. It allowed the legislators to come at their leisure; it also allowed us to speak to multiple legislators at the same time.”

“What stands out is that OCA’s approach fosters more direct engagement with lawmakers …,” Gerken-Snyder said. “It also creates an environment where multiple members of the delegation are present at the same time, which encourages open dialogue and demonstrates a level of mutual respect despite political differences. I’ve always enjoyed the format as something different and unique that OCA does for its members.”

“I think it is much more effective to have them share their thoughts collectively as well,” Luttmer added. “The whole experience seemed to be much more effective and a lot more efficient.”

‘Boots on the Ground Experience’

OCA participants believe the Fly-In is important for association members to attend.

“I think there is a tendency to underestimate the value of these events …,” Luttmer said.

“I would strongly encourage fellow OCA members to participate whenever possible,” Hall added. “… The Fly-In provides contractors the opportunity to bring boots-on-the-ground experience right to the policymakers’ doorsteps. Decisions that get made in Washington oftentimes seem distant, but they have a direct impact on the projects we build and the people we employ as well as the various areas we serve.”

Gerken-Snyder agrees, saying, “While individuals may sometimes feel their voices are small, this experience reinforces that there are meaningful opportunities to be heard.”

See “BUILD’ing a Traditional Path in Next Transportation Bill”.