Utility Infrastructure

After a great deal of effort this Congress, legislation removing the volume cap on private activity bonds for water and sewer infrastructure was re-introduced in the House. Sponsoring the legislation this time around, in the wake of the retirement of our previous Republican champion Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.), is Rep. Jimmy Duncan (R-Tenn.) with lead Democrat Rep. Bill Pacrell (D-N.J.).

In mid November, Rep. Earl Blumenauer introduced a bipartisan, AGC-supported piece of legislation that would create a water infrastructure trust fund designed to supplement the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) with additional capitalization. Please take action now and urge your Representatives to cosponsor and support H.R. 3582, The Water Trust Fund Act of 2013.

Information for Construction Contractors Operating Under the Federal Government Shutdown The fiscal year 2013 appropriations law expired October 1, 2013, the beginning of FY 2014.  The failure by lawmakers to reach an agreement on funding for the new fiscal year resulted in a federal government shutdown.  The shutdown has left contractors wondering how or even if they can continue to perform their federal contracts.  Construction contracts awarded on a fixed-price basis will be substantially unaffected by the shutdown.  However, for most cost-type contracts, time and materials contracts, IDIQ/MATOC/MACC contracts, and those contracts that have yet to be awarded, the shutdown will likely suspend operations completely.  Therefore, it is important for contractors to prepare for the consequences of a government shutdown.

The House Interior/Environment Appropriations Subcommittee finished up its work on a bill that would fund, among other things, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its programs for fiscal year (FY) 2014.  The EPA saw almost a $3 billion cut to their programs, with the State Revolving Loan Funds (SRFs) taking the brunt of the cuts.