Complimentary AGC Webinar: November 8, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET 
Register today for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division webinar for AGC members on the requirement for federal contractors to provide seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave annually. The requirement when into effect for contract solicitations issued on or after Jan. 1, 2017.
Remember, this requirement only applies to direct federal contractors (those with prime or subcontracts with or through a federal agency—i.e., Army Corps, Navy, U.S. General Services Administration, and so forth). The requirement DOES NOT apply to prime or subcontracts with or through state departments of transportation. Again, click here to register or for more information.
For more information, contact Claiborne Guy at [email protected] or 703-837-5382.

This week, a bipartisan group of 59 senators signed a letter calling for reforms to and reauthorization of career and technical education under the Perkins Act. Earlier this year, the House unanimously passed reforms to the Perkins Act through the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, H.R. 2353. The $1 billion program is significant because it helps offset the cost of career and technical education programs and is a component of AGC’s workforce strategy to close the skills gap. The reforms include better aligning education with local needs, promoting work‐based learning, spurring industry‐recognized credentials and providing modest funding increases.
AGC has been calling on the U.S. Senate to swiftly consider the House-passed bill and urges members to contact their senators to do the same. Today’s Senate letter closely aligns with the House-passed bill and AGC’s priorities, thus giving AGC encouragement that bipartisan legislation could can still happen.
For more information, contact Jim Young at [email protected] or (202) 547-0133.

Earlier this week President Trump issued his priorities for immigration reform. The crux of his 70-point policy will be used as bargaining chips for Trump’s support for continuing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The other priorities were grouped by increased border security – including building a southern border wall –  increased interior enforcement – including mandatory e-verify – and a merit-based legal immigration system that prioritizes skill-based immigration.
The President’s agenda contrasts with many of AGC’s immigration priorities and lacks Congressional support, making it unlikely to advance as a whole. However, the debate could jumpstart Congressional action. AGC will use the opportunity to push for reforming the broken immigration system by restructuring the visa system, improving border security and addressing the undocumented workers already in the U.S.
For more information, contact Jim Young at [email protected] or (202) 547-0133.

On Wednesday, the Treasury Department formally withdrew the proposed regulations under Section 2704 of the Internal Revenue Code, which would have limited family-owned businesses’ use of minority discounts for the estate tax. AGC was actively involved in pushing for the regulations’ withdrawal. In October 2016, 730 family-owned AGC member companies sent a letter to then Secretary Lew calling for the regulations to be withdrawn.  AGC also submitted comments during the rulemaking process in opposition to the proposed regulations, and co-signed comments in opposition from the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition.
This is a significant victory for family-owned construction firms and a reminder that even if legislation stalls in Congress, there are still opportunities for regulatory victories under the Trump Administration.
The withdrawal of these proposed regulations comes following an Executive Order President Trump signed earlier this year directing the Secretary of the Treasury to identify significant tax regulations issued on or after Jan. 1, 2016 that 1) impose an undue financial burden on U.S. taxpayers, 2) add undue complexity to the federal tax laws, or 3) exceed the statutory authority of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). An obvious candidate for review under the Executive Order were the proposed regulations under Section 2704. The regulations as proposed could have raised family business’s estate taxes by an estimated 30 to 50 percent, were needlessly complicated, unnecessarily singled out family-owned businesses, exceeded the scope of IRS’s authority, and would have caused tremendous upheaval for succession planning.
For more information, contact Matthew Turkstra at [email protected] or (202) 547-4733.

Represents Construction Industry before White House, DOL & DOT
This week, AGC participated in a series of deregulatory events at the White House and federal agencies—including the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Transportation – as the administration continues outreach to AGC for guidance on regulatory reforms to undertake. To date, AGC has provided several hundred pages worth of obsolete, over burdensome or duplicative regulations and detailed recommendations for federal agencies to consider in their quest to cut red tape. For a list of top regulations AGC continues to address, click here.
At the White House, Vice President Mike Pence noted that the Trump administration has issued 58 percent fewer and costly regulations than former President Obama and has saved $560 million by cutting regulations. Nevertheless, there is still much work to be done with regulations from silica to “Waters of the united states” and permit streamlining for the construction industry. AGC will continue to provide substantive information to regulators and the White House as well as push forward on Capitol Hill for regulatory reform.
For more information, contact Jimmy Christianson at 703-837-5325 or [email protected].

Deadline: November 15, 2017
AGC of America is proud to announce the launch of the AGC Diversity & Inclusion Awards program. AGC will present a total of six awards in three award categories: the Diversity & Inclusion Excellence Awards, the Chapter Diversity & Inclusion Award and the Diverse Business of the Year Award. These awards seek to raise awareness of the value that a diverse workforce and inclusive environment brings to a company by spotlighting diversity and inclusion champions within AGC. By recognizing these diversity and inclusion champions, AGC hopes to inspire other AGC member-companies to engage in activities that will promote diversity and inclusion both within the Association and the industry.
AGC member companies and chapters in good standing who meet the competition requirements are encouraged to apply online for some much-deserved recognition. Apply by November 15, 2017. Learn more about AGC of America’s Diversity & Inclusion Awards program at www.agc.org/diversityawards.
For more information contact Brynn Huneke at [email protected] or (703) 837-5376.

Book Your Hotel before Tuesday, Oct. 10
Jointly sponsored by AGC and CFMA, the 21st Annual AGC/CFMA Construction Financial Management Conference will be held Nov. 1-3, 2017 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. This three-day conference offers programs and workshops designed specifically for financial professionals in the construction industry. The 34 interactive sessions will cover the latest industry issues and their financial implications. Participants may earn up to 20.5 continuing professional education (CPE) credits. 
For more information, contact Matthew Turkstra at [email protected] or (202) 547-4733.

Book your room for the 2017 Highway, Transportation and Utility Infrastructure Conference before AGC’s room block at the Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona expires. Hotel deadline is Monday, Oct. 2.  After that date rooms at the hotel conference rate may not be available. The conference, which takes place Nov. 1-3, is an opportunity to get the latest information on issues impacting the highway and utility construction markets including:

• Panel of contractors discussing how they are gearing up to comply with OSHA’s silica rule compliance.


• What is the Gold Shovel Standard and how will it impact your business


• What is expected from the Trump Administration infrastructure initiative


• Future Trends: How will the industry change in the next decade


• How are contractors using drones to improve construction operations


• What do you have to know before becoming involved in a P3 project

A special networking night is planned to allow you to compete in a corn hole tournament while you enjoy a gourmet eating and drinking experience.
Register today before the room block fills up!
For more information, visit http://meetings.agc.org/highway_utility/ or contact Brian Deery at [email protected] or (703) 837-5319.
 

Discuss Partnering and Agency Reforms
Last week, AGC met with military and civilian leaders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss how the agency can improve communication and partnering with the construction industry.  Among the suggestions, AGC urged more meetings on a regular basis between Army Corps Regions/Districts and AGC local chapters, improved change and budget management, and increase training for Army Corps acquisition personnel.  AGC pledged to support the Army Corps and other agencies’ efforts to help our nation recover from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria,
For more information, contact [email protected] or (703) 837-5368.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today issued a proposed rulemaking to reverse a regulation put in place in the final days of the Obama Administration, requiring states to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on highways as part of the planning process for transportation improvement projects. FHWA pointed out that a GHG measure was not required by statute and is a burdensome and unnecessary addition to the planning review.
FHWA limited the comment period to 30 days in an effort to eliminate this requirement before states would be required to implement it. AGC has highlighted this issue in communications with FHWA as part of the Trump Administrations efforts to reduce regulatory requirements. AGC CEO Stephen Sandherr also met with Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao early in her term and pointed out this rule as part of a long litany of regulations that AGC believes DOT should eliminate.
For more information, contact Brian Deery at [email protected] or (703) 837-5319.