April 4, 2025

By Lane Kimble

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The quote is about 2,500 years old but the message is as relevant now as ever.

“Every battle is won before it’s ever fought.”

Duly noted, Sun Tzu.

WTBA put in critical work this week in Washington, D.C., more than a year before Congress needs to reauthorize the five-year plan to pay for our nation’s roads, bridges, and infrastructure.

Executive Director Steve Baas and Director of Government Affairs Elise Nelson joined industry partner Transportation Development Association (TDA) for its 2025 Washington, D.C. Fly-In.

Over the course of two days, they heard from and spoke with a bipartisan assortment of Wisconsin’s delegation including Senator Tammy Baldwin and Congressmen Bryan Steil and Tony Wied.

Wied (R-Green Bay) is Wisconsin’s newest member of Congress and serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He gave Work Zone Safe Wisconsin a shout-out during a hearing in February.

Baas, Nelson, and attendees also met with other Wisconsin Congressional members on Capitol Hill during office visits Thursday.

The fly-in group included WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman and representatives from labor, contractors and local governments.

“Reauthorization may be a year off, but the product Congress delivers in 2026 is going to be informed and shaped by discussions we are having in 2025,” Baas said.

“Events like this ensure we are at the table instead of on the menu as those decisions are made.”

WTBA applauds its partners at TDA for organizing an impactful and busy visit to the nation’s capital, helping keep transportation top of mind among federal decision makers.