A coalition of four national trade associations, including the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), and the Associated General Contractors Association (AGCA) has formally petitioned the White House to improve the implementation of the Build America, Buy America Act. This request aims to address significant difficulties encountered by members in navigating the White House Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) implementation, which has led to confusion and delays in key construction projects.

 
The Build America, Buy America Act, incorporated into the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act enacted in 2021, expands domestic preference requirements for construction projects funded with federal dollars. However, the trade groups argue that the current implementation approach is opaque and unbalanced, risking delays and cost increases for vital housing, transportation, and water infrastructure projects.
"Our coalition fully supports the Act's laudable core purpose of strengthening domestic manufacturing," the coalition emphasized. "Unfortunately, OMB's focus on managing virtually every aspect of the Build America, Buy America Act requirements is not practical and causes confusion and delay with federal agencies that fund construction projects."
The petition calls for a more timely and transparent waiver process to address uncertainties and ensure the successful delivery of essential infrastructure projects. The trade groups advocate for a depoliticized approach that prioritizes domestic manufacturing while providing adequate consideration for project timelines and costs.

https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2024/02/coalition-requests-improvements-to-white-house-implementation-of-the-build-america-buy-america-act