WASHINGTON, DC (March 20, 2024) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) and Congressman Max Miller (OH-07) hailed the passage of H.R. 7685, the Innovative Mitigation Partnerships for Asphalt and Concrete Technologies (IMPACT) Act, out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by a vote of 38 – 0. 

The IMPACT Act will strengthen and enhance the competitiveness of American manufacturing by developing advanced technologies that will improve the efficiency of cement, concrete, and asphalt production. 

“The climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our lifetime, and it is critical to take significant strides to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions within the manufacturing sector,” said Congresswoman Valerie Foushee. “I’m proud to join Rep. Miller in introducing the IMPACT Act, a forward-thinking bill that will not only enhance the competitiveness of American manufacturing and R&D, but will also achieve measurable GHG emissions reductions and modernize the current manufacturing processes of building materials that are essential for our nation’s infrastructure. I am pleased that this bill passed through committee markup today, and we must continue to prioritize cleaner manufacturing and production systems that improve public health, protect our planet, and bring visible and lasting change for generations to come.” 

“Cement, concrete, and asphalt production practices are critically important to the industrial sector and play a fundamental role in supporting U.S. infrastructure, national defense, and economic security,” said Congressman Miller at Wednesday’s markup. “The IMPACT Act recognizes that role and will enable domestic production to reach peak efficiency for decades to come.”  

“The United States’ industrial sector is among the cleanest in the world because American innovation drives down emissions and lifts the economy up,” said Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) President Heather Reams. “CRES is proud to endorse Representatives Max Miller (R-Ohio) and Valerie Foushee’s (D-NC) Innovative Mitigation Partnerships for Asphalt and Concrete Technologies (IMPACT) Act, which will drive important research, development and demonstration of next generation concrete, cement and asphalt materials that will both reduce emissions and help American industry become more competitive.”  

“The world is poised for a construction boom, and American innovation needs to accelerate to meet demand for cement, concrete and asphalt,” said ClearPath Action Chief Strategy Officer Jeremy Harrell. “Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) and Valerie Foushee’s (D-NC) bipartisan legislation will drive a dedicated RD&D program at the Department of Energy to reduce emissions for cement, concrete and asphalt. We are excited to support this legislation and look forward to continuing to work with Congress on a whole suite of solutions to unlock and scale the technologies needed to decarbonize the industrial sector.”  

Specifically, the IMPACT Act:  

• Enables industry and DOE to work collaboratively on fundamental research that will enhance existing production methods and unlock new innovative techniques; and  
• Enables DOE, in consultation with other federal agencies, to offer technical assistance to entities seeking to promote the commercial application of low-emission cement, concrete, and asphalt.  

The full bill text can be viewed here.