Last week, Lauren Benford of Reiman Group testified in front of the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on behalf of AGC. Addressing soaring inflation, rising construction costs, and regulatory challenges, Lauren highlighted key issues impacting the construction industry. She noted that since February 2020, the average cost of construction materials has surged by 37%. Despite AGC’s support for enhancing America’s manufacturing capabilities, confusion persists among suppliers, contractors, and state departments of transportation. Lauren also emphasized the severe labor shortage in the industry, despite firms increasing pay and benefits. She called for the depoliticization of the Buy America waiver, stressing its importance for American construction jobs and infrastructure rebuilding. While the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act promises market opportunities, the industry remains hopeful for more large projects to bid on in the coming years.