On May 28, the President Biden’s National Economic Council sought consultation from AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson on construction supply chain issues, materials price increases and their impacts.

Simonson informed the lead economists for Vice President Harris and the U.S. Department of Commerce, among others, that the construction industry is experiencing the greatest price increases and supply chain disruption in his twenty year career with the association. When asked what policies the Biden Administration should consider taking, AGC’s chief economist noted the elimination of tariffs on construction materials, allowance for change orders in response to unanticipated changes in materials costs, quantities, and delivery times on federal construction contracts, and abandonment of any government policy initiatives that would restrict the types or sources of construction materials, equipment or labor. This meeting comes after several the economist has been invited to with other federal agencies on the topic, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Energy, and General Services Administration, among others.