On Dec. 20, President Trump signed two spending packages totaling $1.4 trillion, preventing another year-end government shutdown and providing annual funding to all agencies of the federal government through September 30, 2020. Overall, federal construction accounts saw about a nine percent increase—or $12.4 billion—in funding in comparison to FY 2019 funding levels. Click here for a full AGC analysis of federal and federal-aid construction accounts for FY2020.

On Dec. 9, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees released a compromise deal on S. 1790, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020. Soon after, the House overwhelmingly passed this annual defense bill, 377-48, sending it to the Senate where it is expected pass in the coming days. This measure includes roughly $11.8 billion for military and military family housing construction. While the bill rejected the Administration’s request for more than $7 billion for border wall construction, it did not include earlier provisions that would have barred the reprograming of funds for projects along the southern border. The agreement also did not include controversial provisions surrounding PFAS substances, instead opting for less stringent measures that give direction to EPA and DOD to regulate. Click “read more” for further information on NDAA’s impact on the industry. 

On Nov. 21, Congress sent FY 2020 funding legislation to President Trump that includes AGC-backed repeal of a $7.6 billion cut to federal highway funding, known as a “rescission,” that was scheduled to take place on July 1, 2020. This rescission—required by the current federal highway and transit law, the FAST Act— would have affected all 50 states and the District of Columbia by limiting local flexibility and possibly hindering the ability to plan and carry out critical projects. AGC applauds Congress’ action to repeal this rescission and will continue to monitor the progress of FY 2020 spending legislation to ensure continued investment in our nation’s infrastructure.

On Oct. 29, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced a “skinny” National Defense Authorization Act. (NDAA) of Fiscal Year 2020.  Despite both the House and Senate passing their versions of the NDAA over the summer, conference negotiations have stalled between the chambers.

This week, AGC joined a group of 59 trade groups to call on Congressional leaders to pass legislation extending a number of tax provisions that have either recently expired or are set to expire at the end of the year (commonly called the “tax extenders”). The letter calls for extending these provisions through at least 2020.

On Nov. 4, the Federal Highway Administration released a table showing the cut, known as a rescission, to each state’s federal highway funding as required by the FAST Act.

On Oct. 15, AGC and coalition partners made the case to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)—in response to the agency’s request for information—to include more engineering and work practice control methods that effectively limit exposure to silica for the equipment and tasks currently on Table 1.

On Oct. 8, AGC, along with the Wyoming Contractors Association and High Country Construction, hosted U.S. Representative and Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney for a tour of a local highway construction project in Fremont County, Wyoming.

On Oct. 9, the president signed two executive orders (EO) that would make it more difficult for federal agencies to regulate through guidance and policy documents that are not otherwise subject to public comment or notice requirements under law.

On Sept. 19, Jamey Sanders, Vice President of Choctaw Transportation and Division Chair of AGC of America’s Federal and Heavy Construction Division, testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on the importance of water resource infrastructure to the U.S. economy.