NAM Launched Campaign for Infrastructure Permitting Reform
Manufacturers are pushing for legislative changes as federal surface transportation programs approach their expiration date.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Manufacturing
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Should the federal government prioritize faster permitting to accelerate national infrastructure projects?
The National Association of Manufacturers has introduced the Building to Win campaign to advocate for federal infrastructure investment and streamlined permitting. The initiative comes as Congress weighs a long-term highway bill ahead of the December expiration of current surface transportation programs.
Why it matters
Freight bottlenecks and regulatory hurdles currently inflate operating costs for industrial businesses, which must navigate these inefficiencies while federal funding remains in flux. The campaign aims to influence upcoming legislative decisions to mitigate $47.9 billion in combined annual economic losses.
Highway congestion and port delays impose $40 billion in annual costs, while permitting delays add $7.9 billion to that figure. These bottlenecks result in 65 million hours of wasted freight time annually.
The players
National Association of Manufacturers
The largest industrial trade association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in Washington, D.C.
The details
The Building to Win campaign seeks to pressure Congress to pass a long-term highway bill that addresses systemic delays in transportation and project approval. For manufacturers, these inefficiencies manifest as increased logistics costs and supply chain instability. The effort is designed to compel lawmakers to prioritize permitting reform as a condition for reauthorizing federal transportation programs.
Timeline
December 11, 2026: Federal surface transportation programs expire.
Market Landscape
The push by the National Association of Manufacturers follows a recurring cycle of industry advocacy ahead of the expiration of federal surface transportation programs. This effort marks an attempt to elevate infrastructure permitting reform from a technical policy concern to a central legislative priority.
Operators should monitor federal legislative updates regarding the highway bill, as changes to permitting processes could impact future facility expansion timelines and logistics budgeting. Businesses reliant on heavy freight movement should track whether potential reforms lead to a reduction in recurring port and highway bottleneck costs.
The takeaway
The manufacturing sector is leveraging current economic data to shape the debate on long-term infrastructure funding. Operators should track the progress of the Building to Win campaign as a bellwether for potential changes to federal project permitting timelines.
Further reading
Learn more about the policy challenges facing industrial operators in the Manufacturing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tedmag.
Live Poll
Should the federal government prioritize faster permitting to accelerate national infrastructure projects?
