U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Oregon Sen. Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) recently led a panel of industry and labor leaders to discuss how they can expand construction development and fuel job growth across the region.

Starr gave introductory remarks where he talked about working together to find common ground to get the country and region back on track.

Oregon Sen. Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) introduces the panel.

“What we want to talk about is growing Oregon, creating economic opportunity, creating jobs for you and your colleagues, and recognizing that that doesn’t happen by accident,” Starr said. “It happens when policymakers make good choices. I would like to say that we are doing some of that now, but I would say we still have a ways to go.”

Meet the Panel

The panel, which gathered at Rosendin Electric in Hillsboro, focused the need to cut red tape, strengthen partnerships, and simplify permits for critical infrastructure projects — including the Interstate 5 bridge replacement. It was a unique opportunity for local tradesmen to meet face-to-face for several hours finding common ground towards reducing duplication and speeding up permitting.

Panelists included:

• Todd Mustard | Executive Manager, NECA Oregon-Columbia Chapter
• John Killin | Executive Director, AWCC of Oregon
• Dave Fitzhugh | Director of Contract Strategy and Dispute Solutions, Western Partitions Inc.
• Mike James | Business Representative, Glaziers Local 740
• Marshall McGrady | Training Director, NECA/IBEW Electrical Training Center

‘It Comes Down to Jobs’

Drawing on his own background as a plumbing contractor and business owner for 28 years, Mullin said he couldn’t remember a time where finding work was more difficult than finding labor. Yet that’s the reality many in the industry say they are now facing.

Panelists, from left: Mike James, Todd Mustard, and Dave Fitzhugh.

As Killin summed it up plainly: “It comes down to jobs. We need opportunities, and we need to figure out where the bottlenecks are.” He cited overregulation and burdensome, duplicitous permitting as a substantial hurdle to projects getting built, drawing mentions of repeatedly stalled construction of power lines, bridges, and manufacturing facilities.

“Fitzhugh echoed Mullin, saying construction labor and management are united in their desire to spur the region’s economy. “We have the infrastructure ready to fill these jobs. We just need the projects in front of us,” he said.

Permitting Reform

Amid frustrations in the room at obstacles toward development and construction, Mullin said Congress is continuing to work toward permitting reform via the SPEED Act, a bipartisan effort led by Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Jared Golden (D-Maine). The bill proposes changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to bring projects to fruition faster.

Mullin also urged tradesmen to continue sharing real-world examples (like the Interstate 5 Bridge replacement) that can help lawmakers push for policy changes at both the state and federal levels.

Mike James (left) and Mark Long (center) speak with U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.).

“Everybody in this room also understands that we have an aging workforce,” James said, adding that 30% of his union’s workers will be retiring in the next 5-7 years. “How do we replace these people? If (apprentices) aren’t working, it doesn’t do us any good – we need projects.”

McGrady echoed that concern, saying that he currently has more than 1,500 people on his ranked applicant list but hasn’t taken a new apprentice since November 2024.

“Unless I have a place to put them, I can’t bring them in,” he said.

U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) poses with Monique deBoer and Todd Mustard of NECA.

Call to Action

Perhaps most importantly, Mullin encouraged those in the room to get involved. He said anyone willing to run for office would have a strong supporter in himself. Several times he leaned on a favorite expression that led to his own involvement in politics: “You’re never going to change anything you’re willing to tolerate.”

“We need more of you guys to run. We want to work with you … If we want to make some differences, then let’s get involved. If we don’t do it, who will?” 

— U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin