On Sept. 25, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule updating the earnings thresholds necessary to exempt executive, administrative, or professional employees from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime pay requirements and allowing employers to count a portion of certain bonuses (and commissions) towards meeting the salary level. The final rule includes many of AGC’s policy recommendations. 

In a Sept. 24 letter to the California Air Resources Board, the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency initiated a process to resolve deficiencies in several of the state’s plans to improve air quality.

On Sept. 19, the Senate Appropriations committee approved its version of the fiscal year (FY) 2020 funding package for U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) programs. The Senate bill, like the House bill passed in June, includes the full $46.365 billion FAST Act obligation limitation for the federal-aid highway program, a $1.1 billion increase over 2019. In addition, the bill includes $2.7 billion discretionary appropriations for highway programs, almost the exact same amount as the House but with different priorities. However, as it appears that the full House and Senate will not approve these bills or negotiate final spending figures prior to the September 30 end of the fiscal year, funding for U.S. DOT programs will be included as part of the Continuing Resolution that will be necessary to keep federal government programs operating.

On Sept. 12, AGC attended the unveiling of a final rule to repeal the 2015 definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rulemaking. 

On August 19, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit seeking to overturn the district court’s decision from March that reinstated the EEOC’s revised EEO-1 Component 2 form. On August 26, AGC—with the help of its Construction Advocacy Fund—joined 13 other associations on an amici brief that explains to the court the problems employers have with the new EEO-1 form; a narrative that was not included in the parties’ briefs.

On September 4, Rep. Mike Cloud visited The Beck Group’s nearly $30 million project for Ascension Seton Bastrop Hospital in Bastrop, TX along with Austin Chapter- AGC and AGC of America.

On September 3, in partnership with Arizona Builders Alliance and Arizona Chapter-AGC, AGC of America hosted U.S. Representative Greg Stanton for a tour of the South Mountain Freeway.

On August 26, AGC of America submitted comments on the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed rule to establish a new system for government approval of apprenticeship programs that would operate in parallel with the existing registered apprenticeship system.  The new system would provide for recognition of “Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs” through an expedited and streamlined process.  The proposed rule states that the construction industry would not “initially” be eligible to participate in the new system.

On August 29, U.S. Representative Roger Marshall toured JE Dunn Construction and Martin K. Eby’s $75 million joint venture project for a new minor league baseball stadium in Wichita, Kansas.