Murphie Barrett, a former congressional staffer who played key roles in crafting several recent infrastructure laws, has joined the Associated General Contractors of America as its new vice president of congressional relations for infrastructure advancement. Barrett will lead the trade association's transportation, water and utility infrastructure advocacy efforts and play a key role in the group's regulatory reform efforts.

"Murphie understands what it takes to get essential infrastructure legislation crafted, supported and enacted," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer. "As important, she understands the vital role associations like ours play in advocating for and helping influence federal infrastructure and public works measures."

Barrett most recently served as the staff director for the House Subcommittee on Highway & Transit, where she served as the lead Republican negotiation for the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, which was signed into law in 2015. Prior to that, she served on the staff of the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, where she worked as the lead Republican negotiator for the Water Resources Development Act as well as other infrastructure measures.

Murphie Barrett joins the association's government relations team that advocates on behalf of the commercial construction industry wherever national policy is made. In her new role, Barrett will oversee the association's infrastructure advocacy efforts, including working to encourage the passage of new federal surface transportation, aviation and water infrastructure bills. She will also oversee the association's Hardhats for Highways campaign, which is designed to engage the association's members in advocating for new infrastructure measures.

Barrett also will play a key role in the association's ongoing regulatory reform efforts. This includes pushing for measures to streamline federal environmental reviews for new infrastructure projects and to accelerate the timeline for issuing federal construction permits. She also will serve as the association's primary contact with the Transportation Construction Coalition and Infrastructure Working Group, both of which AGC co-chairs, as well as the Americans for Transportation Mobility.

"I look forward to working with the association's members, staff and partners on important legislation to improve the nation's infrastructure and advance regulatory reform," said Barrett. "Rebuilding our infrastructure and reforming regulations will not only boost demand for construction, it will help our economy continue to expand."

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