America's Infrastructure Alliance Explained

Headquarters:	Washington, D.C.
Key People:	CEO and Chairman: Jeff Loveng
Focus:	Transportation public policy issues and funding
Region Served:	United States
Membership:	Representatives of US transportation companies and government entities

America’s Infrastructure Alliance (AIA) is national 501(c)(4) representing transportation companies in the United States. Its stated mission is lobbying for increased federal investment in the national transportation system. The group is made up of representatives from transportation and construction industry companies and trade groups, Airlines for America, American Trucking Association, Association of American Railroads and Associated General Contractors.^[1]

Unlike traditional lobbying firms, which meet directly with lawmakers and policymakers in attempts to influence decision-making, the organization is focused directly on educating voters.^[2]

Background

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) issues a report every four years called "The Report Card on America’s Infrastructure." The latest report published in March 2013 gave an improved score for the country as a whole for the first time in the 15 years: an improvement from a D to a D+.^[3] Presently, the federal government funds 25% of infrastructure activity; the remainder is paid by state and local governments.

Advocacy

The organization's goals are focused on fixing the specific problem of deteriorating roads, bridges, and other transportation media in the United States. AIA's position is that the United States government should increase investment and rebuilding as a matter of constitutional obligation.^[4] AIA advocates against changing transportation spending from a federal government program to a state government program. T

AIA advocates for increasing the gas tax in order to increase the federal budget for repairing and maintaining bridges, railroads and roads.^[5]

The AIA also advocated for passage of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), which is a bill that gives authority for maintaining and developing port and waterway infrastructure to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.^{[6] [7]}

History and organization

2012

• The organization is legally a non-profit corporation that was incorporated in the District of Columbia on December 11, 2012.

2013

• On March 19, 2013, AIA first announced itself as a new organization. AIA is registered as a 501c(4) tax-exempt issue education organization.^[8]

Governance

• AIA is governed by a board of directors comprising 6 individual members and an advisory board of companies from the airline, railroad, trucking and shipping industries.:

Executive leadership

• Chairman and president: Jeff Loveng, former Chief of Staff to Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA
• Chief executive officer: Nicholas E. Calio

See also

• List of industry trade groups in the United States
• Transportation infrastructure

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. News: Burgess. Everett. Snider. Adam. Senate CR passes closure test without amendments - America's infrastructure gets a D+; WRDA bill officially introduced. 6 March 2015. Politico. 19 March 2013.
2. News: When Lobbying for Infrastructure, Even Unity Is Not Enough. Izadi. Elahe. 24 July 2013. National Journal. 27 April 2015. Loveng, former chief of staff for House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., helped start the 501(c)(4) America’s Infrastructure Alliance this year to advocate solely outside the Beltway for infrastructure investment. The group, which has a budget of roughly $1.5 million, is conducting message testing and polling in preparation for a campaign in September, when it plans to roll out advertising connected to infrastructure legislation. The idea is to educate voters within particular districts, using messages that match their politics..
3. News: Schwartz. John. Small Infrastructure Gains Are Observed in Engineering Report. 6 March 2015. The New York Times. 19 March 2013.
4. News: Peters. Mary. Loveng. Jeff. Congress should support a national infrastructure policy. 6 March 2015. The Hill. 2 August 2013. Washington, D.C..
5. News: Readers React Want better roads and bridges? Then raise the gas tax. 31 January 2015. Los Angeles Times. 6 April 2015.
6. WRRDA Thank You. 27 September 2013. Video. America's Infrastructure Alliance.
7. Web site: America's Infrastructure Alliance. YouTube. 2015-04-06.
8. News: Bob Dold's 'White Whale' consulting company. Sweet. Lynn. 28 April 2014. Chicago Sun-Times. 6 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412222339/http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/7/71/166694/bob-dolds-white-whale-consulting-company. 2015-04-12. dead.