Oak Creek, WI - On 9/16/13, U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI-1), chairman of the House Budget Committee and senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, joined rail industry representatives for a tour of Nordco's Oak Creek, Wis., facility.

Nordco President and CEO Bruce Boczkiewicz welcomed Rep. Ryan, along with other guests from the rail industry, including Kevin Soucie of Canadian National, Ken Lucht of Wisconsin & Southern and Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi. The event was organized by the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC).

Austinburg, OH - On 8/28/13, U.S. Congressman David Joyce (R-OH-14), a member of the powerful House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, visited the manufacturing facility of NRC member Delta Railroad Construction in Austinburg, Ohio. Larry Laurello, President of Delta, welcomed the Congressman and his staff member Kevin Benacci.

During the tour, Laurello provided Congressman Joyce with an overview of Delta's operations throughout North America. Founded in 1957, Delta is a family owned and operated company that has grown from a small track repair business serving local clients to a full-service railroad construction company serving the eastern United States. With over 250 employees, Delta Railroad Construction is recognized as one of the nation's premier railroad construction companies.

Sutton, WV - On 8/7/13, U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV-2) joined representatives from the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of the Appalachian Timber Services facility in Sutton, WV. As a member of the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure's subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, Congresswoman Capito helps oversee the economic and safety regulation of the railroad industry.

Appalachian Timber Services employs 49 people and has been servicing the railroad industry for over 40 years with creosote treated wood products. Located in the heart of West Virginia, Appalachian Timber Services' skilled work force provides products for customers who require exacting specifications.

Garrison, KY - On 6/10/13, U.S. Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY-4) joined representatives from Tram Construction Inc. and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of the Tram Construction railyard in Garrison, KY.

Tram Construction began in 1982 with the president of the company moonlighting out of the back of his pickup truck. 31 years later, Tram now employs 26 workers in the northeastern KY area.

Fallston, MD - On 5/31/13, U.S. Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD-1), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, visited the Rhinehart Railroad Construction offices in Fallston, MD. The NRC organized the event.

During the visit, Rhinehart Railroad Construction executives briefed the Congressman on the history and current state of the company and highlighted some of their recent projects. Rhinehart Railroad Construction has been in the railroad contracting business for over forty years and is still family owned and operated. The company specializes in track construction, preventative track maintenance, inspection services, and equipment rental, among other construction and maintenance services. Rhinehart employs 43 people, having just added 8 new jobs in the last 5 months due to a consistent increase in customer demand. Rhinehart Railroad Construction recently completed track expansion and upgrade projects for a number coal facilities, manufacturing companies, and power plants.

Wood River, IL - On 5/29/13, U.S. Congressman Bill Enyart (D-IL-12) joined representatives from Watco Companies, the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC), and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) for a tour of the Watco Companies' railcar repair shop.

Watco Companies, L.L.C., (Watco) is a transportation company providing transportation, mechanical, terminal & port and compliance solutions to customers throughout North America and Australia. Watco is the owner of Watco Transportation Services, L.L.C., one of the largest short line railroad holding companies in the U.S. with 30 short line railroads operating on more than 4,500 miles of track.

West Point, GA - On 8/9/13, Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA-2) joined the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC), NRC member STX Railroad Construction, CSX, and Kia Motor Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) for a briefing and tour of the Kia plant and rail yard in West Point, Georgia.

During the briefing and tour, STX and CSX discussed the positive impact railroads have on Georgia's economy and how they can continue to keep Georgia businesses running. Specifically, how businesses like Kia work hand in hand with the rail industry to ship their product more efficiently thus boosting Georgia's economy and creating jobs.