In the coming weeks, staff changes will take place at HQ USACE. Major General Don Riley, who was promoted to Deputy Commanding General earlier this year, left a vacancy in the Civil Works Directorate. Earlier this week, Lieutenant General Van Antwerp announced that Major General Bo Temple, the current Deputy Commanding General for Military and International Operations, will assume the position of Deputy Commanding General for Civil Works and Emergency Operations later this fall.
Construction Law
September 12, 2008
McCain/Palin received a post-convention bounce, leading in one poll this week by as much as ten points (USA Today/Gallup 9/5-9/7). Average poll numbers produce a less dramatic but still significant change in direction for the GOP. Since the end of the Republican Convention, polls shows Sen. McCain leading 47.6 to 45.2; this is almost exactly the opposite of the averages following the Democratic Convention when Sen. Obama led by four points.
September 12, 2008
On September 8, AGC urged the U.S. House and U.S. Senate to focus on six priority areas - those that will most impact the ability of AGC members to hire, manage their businesses and pay taxes into the future - in the waning weeks of the 110th Congress. The construction industry is suffering a drop in employment, especially in highway and transportation construction, where there has been a drop of more than 5% in the past year. The construction industry has also seen significant volatility in diesel/energy prices over the last five years.
September 12, 2008
On a voice vote Wednesday the Senate passed HR 6532, legislation transferring $8 billion from the general fund of the Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund. The transfer will prevent a shortfall in available funds from slowing down federal reimbursements to states for on-going federal-aid highway construction projects. The Senate amended the House bill to allow for the transfer to happen immediately rather than on October 1. The House passed the bill Thursday by a vote of 376-29, and the President is expected to sign it expeditiously.
September 4, 2008
Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) will formally accept his party’s nomination this evening. Senator McCain captured the attention of the media following the Democratic Party Convention with his Vice Presidential pick of Governor Sarah Palin (R-Alaska), but has yet to turn it into gains in polls.
September 4, 2008
At this week’s Republican National Convention in Minnesota, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Republican John Mica (R-FL) pitched a $1.5 trillion plan to invest in the nation’s transportation infrastructure. The plan would include investments in all modes of surface transportation, including rail, and would be paid for by a mixture of federal revenue, public private partnerships, and bond proceeds.
September 4, 2008
AGC sent a letter this week to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) in support of the infrastructure investment provisions contained in the Chairman’s second stimulus supplemental appropriations bill for fiscal year 2008. In particular, AGC expressed support for the Chairman’s proposal to address the impending Highway Trust Fund deficit by transferring $8 billion from the General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund. The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a stand-alone piece of legislation to accomplish the transfer in July.
September 4, 2008
Congress has planned to adjourn for the year on Friday, September 26, leaving just 3 weeks to address energy security, the highway trust fund shortfall, a continuing resolution on funding for the entire government, the extension of funding for the Airport Improvement Program, extension of expiring tax provisions and any job-based stimulus package that would include additional money for infrastructure. During this period, AGC will be closely involved in these important legislative battles.
Highway Trust Fund
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