Florida Construction News staff writer
The White House has released proposed guidelines that will require builders to use American-made material in government-funded infrastructure construction projects.
In his State of the Union address this week President Joe Biden highlighted a plan to ensure construction materials used in federal infrastructure projects be manufactured in the United States.
The infrastructure law significantly expands standards to require government-funded infrastructure projects use more American-made iron, steel, construction materials and manufactured products.
“When we do these projects … we’re going to buy American,” Biden said. “It’s totally consistent with international trade rule.”
New rules will mandate the use of U.S.-made “lumber, glass, drywall, fiber optic cables.
“On my watch, American roads, American bridges, and American highways are going to be made with American products,” Biden said.
The proposed guidance “will strengthen implementation of domestic content standards, while also improving federal financial assistance management, consistency, transparency, and oversight,” according to a White House fact sheet.
Manufacturing processes for construction material must occur in the United States, including standards for “plastic and polymer-based products, glass (including optic glass), lumber, and drywall.
Biden highlighted how our historic federal investments in infrastructure would create a visible impact in the lives of American families by committing to start repair on 65,000 miles of roads and 1,500 bridges. The President also committed to making rapid progress across every facet of the law.
More than 3,700 bridge repair and replacement projects have been launched across the country, along with projects to repair of over 69,000 miles of roadway and approving state plans for water funding, EV charging networks and high-speed internet deployment.
A national network of EV chargers in the United States and largest investment in domestic manufacturing of batteries and the critical minerals that power them.
About $200 billion in funding and over 20,000 projects or awards, which are highlighted in a new map showcasing all projects and funding awards in all 50 states and territories. These awards and projects touch over 4,500 communities.
In recent weeks, awards have been announced for regionally or nationally-significant projects including over $2 billion to upgrade some our nation’s most economically significant bridges and over $1.2 billion in Mega grants.
A fact sheet outlines progress on local infrastructure projects across Florida.