NRC Member Meyer Contracting Hosts Congressman Erik Paulsen
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
by: Matt Bell

Section: 2018 NRC Grassroots Events




The NRC's grassroots program was created to invite United States Congressmen to visit NRC member facilities and construction project sites. These visits give the Members of Congress firsthand knowledge of the rail industry and demonstrate how rail contractors and suppliers are positively affecting the rail industry and the local and national economy. If your company is interested in hosting your Congressman for a visit, please contact Matt Bell at mbell@nrcma.org to begin the process.
MAPLE GROVE, MN - On October 11th, 2018, Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-MN-3) joined the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC), in conjunction with the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA), at our member Meyer Contracting's Maple Grove, MN headquarters. The Congressman spoke with company officials, community leaders and rail industry representatives about the need for infrastructure investments and pro-business economic policies, and discussed legislative issues affecting freight rail. 

Meyer Contracting is an MBE, Native American firm with over 30 years of construction experience in rail services, earthwork, utilities, piling, demolition & concrete structures.  Their rail division provides extensive construction services across the country for Class I and Class II railroads and light rail systems, specializing in clearing and grubbing, new sidings, Helical piling and storm water management.  Their team brings years of experience and state of the art equipment to complete projects for freight and light rail, utilizing the latest GPS grading system technology that ensures efficiency, accuracy and productivity.
 
Attendees participated in a brief policy discussion about the how government over regulation, like the proposed FRA Part 243, would hurt small contractor businesses, like Meyer Contracting. Attendees also highlighted the importance of the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act, which, if passed by Congress, will allow the nation's small, local freight railroads to increase their reinvestment for upgrades and expanding the "first and last mile" of transportation infrastructure. 
 
Participants also discussed the private nature of America's freight railroad network which, unlike other modes of freight transportation, does not rely on federal support for the expansion or maintenance of its network. Lastly, attendees called for maintaining the current federal limits for truck size and weight,citing that, at current weight and size limits, trucks already cause more damage than they pay for on our nation's highways.
 
First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008, Congressman Paulsen serves on the House Ways & Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over economic and trade policy and is the chief tax writing committee in the House.  Paulsen is also the Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, a bicameral Congressional Committee composed of ten members from the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, which studies and performs research on matters relating to the U.S. economy, and advises Congress on how to best spur economic growth and create jobs. 
 
Also in attendance were: Paul Meyer, CEO, Meyer Contracting; Verlyn Schoep, President, Meyer Contracting; Mark Conte, Vice President, Meyer Contracting; Luke Fellows, Director of Business Development, Meyer Contracting; Matt Bell, Executive Vice President, NRC; Jacob Carter, Government Affairs Manager, REMSA; Mark Gjevre, Project Engineer, BNSF Railway; Karen Jaeger, Councilwoman, Maple Grove City; Duane Poppe, Mayor, City of Osseo; Mark Wegner, President, Twin Cities & Western Railroad.
 
In Minnesota, 19 freight railroads operate and maintain over 4,292 miles of track, employing more than 4,565 people.
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