AGC successfully blocks a slew of new labor mandates and other harmful policies some members of Congress seek to include in the annual defense bill.   

On July 14, the House of Representative’s passed (219-210) its version National Defense Authorization Act bill. AGC successfully blocked several amendments that would negatively impact military construction contractors. Among other things, these amendments would:

• Require prime contractors and subcontractors to be licensed in the state of the military construction project;
• Establish local hiring preferences;
• Increase greenhouse gas reporting requirements; and
• Impose subjective criteria into the suspension and debarment process that would make it easier to blacklist contractors, among others.

The Senate is expected to finish voting on its version of the defense bill in the coming days. Likewise, AGC is advocating for the construction industry while the Senate finishes going through roughly 850 amendments. The House and Senate will vote on a final version later this year. Congress has passed the NDAA for more than 60 consecutive years and it is considered must-pass legislation, which is why AGC takes seriously any attempt to add harmful construction policy to it. AGC will continue to advocate for contractor priorities as the House and Senate work to a final NDAA.  

For more information, contact Jordan Howard at [email protected] or (703) 837-5368.