USTMA urges Congress to implement sustainable transportation and infrastructure policies

Washington, DC – As the Biden administration begins implementation of the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) is urging congressional leadership to continue working on tire policy and related transportation sustainability initiatives. While the IIJA includes several provisions that would advance scrap tire markets and improve the resiliency of the nation’s infrastructure, USTMA has identified six specific policy proposals – ranging from tax incentives to additional research dollars and procurement commitments – that will strengthen the American tire manufacturing industry and help the country develop roadways with the future in mind.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to truly transform the country’s infrastructure by focusing on our shared priorities,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO. “The tire industry is ready to lead, with innovative technologies that not only improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles but also enhance the performance and durability of our roadways. By embracing these new technologies, we can create highly resilient infrastructure capable of carrying our nation well into the future, while bolstering the American tire manufacturing industry and propelling the United States as a leader in tire technology research.”

The six policy areas identified in the letter to Congressional leadership by USTMA and its members, representing 12 of the world’s largest tire manufacturers, include:

Investments for the research and integration of rubber modified asphalt (RMA) to advance infrastructure projects; Research investments for tire derived aggregate (TDA) in stormwater infiltration galleries; Research investments for stormwater runoff and roadway runoff mitigation efforts; Incentives for the use and manufacturing of retreaded tires; Incentives for the use of low rolling resistance tires for public and private use, and Federal fleet management policy that ensures 100% of tires in the federal fleet enter circular and sustainable scrap tire markets.