October 8th, 2018, (Arlington, VA) – The American Composites Manufacturers Association participated in a roundtable discussion about the IMAGINE Act. Known as the Innovative Materials in American Growth and Infrastructure, Newly Expanded (IMAGINE) Act, the new bill is designed to promote the increased use of innovative materials like fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, as well as new manufacturing methods to accelerate the deployment and extend the life of infrastructure projects. This legislation will advance the study and deployment of projects which utilize cutting edge materials and techniques which speed up construction and are more resilient to flooding and corrosion.
The roundtable was led by the Composites Alliance of Rhode Island and featured discussions by Rep. David Cicilline, Peter Alviti, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, as well as representatives from ACMA, University of Rhode Island, and Goetz Composites.
MJ Carrabba, Associate Director of Government Affairs at ACMA, attended the event: “ACMA is very proud to be working with Senator Whitehouse, Congressman Cicilline and their fellow cosponsors on the IMAGINE Act. This legislation creates a pathway to deploy 21st century construction solutions, like strong and lightweight composites, to rebuild American infrastructure to meet new demands and create opportunity for manufacturers in Rhode Island and around the country to thrive.”
Introduced this past summer, the bill fosters bipartisan cooperation on infrastructure development. ACMA applauds Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) for sponsoring the bill in the Senate. ACMA also commends Reps. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), and Luke Messer (R-I.N.) for sponsoring the House counterpart legislation.
Tom Dobbins ACMA President and CEO added that: “All groups and companies in the innovative infrastructure space need to work together to build as much support as possible to the IMAGINE act. ACMA members were recently in Washington recruiting cosponsors during a legislative fly-in and will be doing so again in February. By working together, we can achieve opportunity for our industries and, even more importantly, a stronger and more resilient American tomorrow.”
For more information and details about ACMA government affairs please contact gov.affairs@acmanet.org