REMSA Member Gallagher Asphalt Hosts Congresswoman Robin Kelly

THORNTON, IL - Today, Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Illinois) joined the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) and its member Gallagher Asphalt for a tour of their asphalt facility in Thornton, Illinois. Congresswoman Kelly met with Gallagher Asphalt President Charles Gallagher, senior company executives and employees, community leaders, and representatives of the railroad industry to discuss the importance of passing a surface transportation reauthorization bill and extending the short line tax credit. She learned about the company's business operations and took an extensive tour of their asphalt plant, which is home to 140 employees. Gallagher Asphalt has more than 220 employees in nationwide.
 

Congresswoman Robin Kelly speaks with Gallagher Asphalt's Chief Operating Officer, Dan Gallagher

 
Founded in 1928 and now in their third generation of family management, Gallagher Asphalt has paved or resurfaced literally thousands and thousands of miles of pavement, under some of the country's most challenging conditions. With state-of-the-art, high-capacity plants strategically positioned in key south Chicago suburban locations, Gallagher effectively and efficiently services commercial and industrial customers throughout more than 3,000 square miles. Gallagher not only utilizes the very latest in sophisticated technology for all its paving projects, but they have also forged long-term relationships with best-in-class subcontractors, civil engineers, technical laboratories and raw materials suppliers.
 
"All the folks at Gallagher Asphalt would like to thank Congresswomen Kelly for taking time to come visit our office and Hotmix Plant," said Dan Gallagher, Chief Operating Officer of Gallagher Asphalt Corporation. "We appreciate her support in passing a long-term funding solution for our national transportation system."
As Chicago Southland's premier paving contractor, Gallagher Asphalt is equipped to handle railroad trackbeds, intermodal yards and freight terminals, highways, shopping malls, commercial parking facilities, industrial roads and loading bays, and high-speed surface-critical racetracks. In 2017, Norfolk Southern chose to use Gallagher Asphalt's Hot-in-Place recycling process to rehabilitate the 104,000 square yards of pavement in one of their busiest car ports in Chicago. In 2018, Gallagher Asphalt was awarded the asphalt paving job for Norfolk Southern's Calumet Terminal Expansion project, requiring 12,150 tons of hot mix asphalt.

 

Congresswoman Kelly speaks with Gallagher Asphalt's President, Charles Gallagher

 
"Thank you to Gallagher Asphalt for the wonderful welcome today at their Thornton facility. Our region's manufacturing base is a critical part of our economy and infrastructure," said Congresswoman Robin Kelly. "Opportunities like this visit allow me to hear the best possible ideas from business leaders, employees and clients. In turn, I take these ideas back to Congress to craft legislation to ensure Chicagoland families and businesses can still make it in America."
 
First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, Congresswoman Kelly serves on the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee (the main policy-writing body of the House) and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. She has worked to expand economic opportunity, community wellness, and public safety across the state of Illinois, championing numerous initiatives to generate job growth. Before being elected to Congress, Kelly was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, served as Chief Administrative Officer of Cook County, and was Chief of Staff to Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, becoming the first African American woman to serve as Chief of Staff to an elected constitutional statewide officeholder.

 

Congresswoman Kelly tours Gallagher Asphalt's facility in Thornton, Illinois

 
Attendees spoke with the Congresswoman about the need for robust investments in infrastructure, and thanked her for cosponsoring H.R.510, the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act, which would allow the nation's small, local freight railroads to increase investment into their rail infrastructure and better serve their customers throughout rural and small-town America. The tax credit has helped small railroads invest more than $4 billion in capital infrastructure improvements since it was enacted in 2005.

 

Congresswoman Kelly with representatives from Gallagher Asphalt, REMSA, the Village of Thornton, and the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association

 
In Illinois, 46 freight railroads operate and maintain over 7,120 miles of track, employing more than 13,150 people.
 
In attendance was: Congresswoman Robin Kelly, 2nd Congressional District of Illinois; Tony Presta, Deputy District Director, Congresswoman Robin Kelly; Charles Gallagher, President, Gallagher Asphalt; Dan Gallagher, Chief Operating Officer, Gallagher Asphalt; Patrick Gallagher, Vice President, Gallagher Asphalt; Jon Gallagher, Project Manager, Gallagher Asphalt; Don Gallagher, Plans Manager, Gallagher Materials; Chris Gallagher, Superintendent, Gallagher Asphalt; Will Gallagher, Operations Director, Gallagher Asphalt; Dwayne Edmondson, Safety Director, Gallagher Asphalt; Sonia Martinez; Employee Relations Director, Gallagher Asphalt; Bob Kolosh, Village President, Village of Thornton; Doug Beckman, Village Administrator, Village of Thornton; Bresha Brewer, Government Affairs Director, Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association; and Jacob Carter, Government Affairs Manager, REMSA.