AGC hosts Rep. Comer for Tour of the Paducah Innovation Center in Western Kentucky
Construction Officials Discuss Workforce Shortages Facing the Industry
Read moreNew Analysis of “PRO Act” Legislation Finds the Measure Will Disproportionately Hurt Union Contractors and Workers
Review of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act for Short, Finds the Measure’s Provisions Would be More Harmful to Union Contractors and Workers than to Open Shop Firms
Read moreNew House Infrastructure Principles Send A Clear Message That Congress Should Make Improving Civil Works Its Top Priority
Outlines Released By Democrats and Republicans Should Inspire Congress to Make Fixing and Expanding Infrastructure its Top Priority, Top Construction Official Notes
Read moreAGC Analysis of FY 2020 Federal Construction Accounts
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.
House Passes Defense Authorization Bill, Billions in Construction Spending, Other Federal Contracting Priorities Included
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.
Read moreCongress Repeals Federal Highway Funding Cut
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.
Read moreNegotiations Stall on Defense Bill - Military Construction Funding Uncertainty Remains
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.
Read moreAGC Joins Coalition Letter Calling on Congress to Pass Tax Extender Legislation
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.
Read moreFederal Highway Administration Releases Table Showing Cuts to States Highway Funding
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.
Read moreAGC Puts Forth Case for Expanding OSHA’s Table 1 of the Silica Standard for Construction
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.
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