The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today expressed strong support for the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s proposed surface transportation reauthorization legislation, the Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th Act (BUILD America 250 Act).
According to TFI, the proposal would strengthen rural infrastructure, improve supply chain reliability, and support America’s farmers and rural communities.
The bipartisan proposal was introduced by committee Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo., and Ranking Member Rick Larsen, D-Wash., and other bipartisan committee leaders.
“A safe, efficient, and modern transportation network is essential to keeping fertilizer and other agricultural inputs moving to farms and getting agricultural products to market,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “This legislation recognizes that the roads, bridges, rail crossings, and freight corridors connecting rural America are essential to our nation’s infrastructure and economic growth.”
TFI said the legislation includes funding and policy provisions aimed at improving local roads and bridges that connect farms and agricultural facilities to major highways. The organization also cited its support for the Agricultural & Rural Road Improvement Program Act, introduced earlier in the 119th Congress by Reps. Mike Bost, R-Ill., and Josh Riley, D-N.Y.
“All fertilizer moves by truck at least once in its journey to the farm, and over 80 percent of agricultural freight tonnage moves by truck,” Rosenbusch said. “But too many of the rural roads and bridges farmers and agricultural supply chains rely on every day are outdated, weight-limited, or in need of modernization. That creates delays, inefficiencies, and higher transportation costs throughout the system.”
TFI also praised the bill’s inclusion of provisions from the bipartisan VARIANCE Act to allow a 10 percent axle variance for dry bulk goods like fertilizer, helping account for natural load shifts while maintaining strong safety performance. The organization stated it welcomes provisions modernizing and streamlining seasonal commercial driver’s license issuance for agricultural workers.
TFI also backed annual fees on electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids included in the bill, saying the fees would provide additional revenue for the Highway Trust Fund.
“We appreciate the leadership of Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, the bipartisan members of the Committee, and their hardworking staffers for the extensive work that went into developing this legislation,” Rosenbusch concluded. “This bill reflects a strong understanding of the importance of rural infrastructure to agriculture, supply chains, and the American economy.”