AGC and a diverse group of more than 55 national coalition partners representing state and local governments, housing and infrastructure developers, transportation groups and private industry, have urged the U.S. Senate to support the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds which local and state governments use to build America’s schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, airports, public transit, water systems and other essential public infrastructure.
On March 20, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee unanimously approved a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in an effort to address our nation’s aging harbors and inland waterways. The bill would seek to further leverage government funds for water infrastructure projects through an innovative financing pilot project program—referred to as the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA)—which can help our nation meet its infrastructure improvement needs.
The AGC Utility Infrastructure Division continues to grow its social media presence. Building on the success of Twitter (Follow the Utility Infrastructure Division @Digwater) for up to the minute information dissemination, the Division has now opened a LinkedIn group specially for AGC members engaged in (or looking to get into) the utility market.
AGC of America hosted its 94th Annual Convention in Palm Springs, Calif., March 6-9, 2013. The Convention was extremely successful with over 2,000 attendees and offering many educational and networking opportunities.
AGC and a diverse group of more than 55 national coalition partners representing state and local governments, housing and infrastructure developers, transportation groups and private industry, have urged the U.S. Senate to support the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds which local and state governments use to build America’s schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, airports, public transit, water systems and other essential public infrastructure.
AGC is getting additional reports from multiple chapters across the country that state legislatures are considering establishing or strengthening their state government procurement laws regarding domestic sourcing. Many of these efforts would restrict access to well-established global supply chains and increase the administrative burden on contractors. To certify that products and materials used in the construction process meet requirements, it will often necessitate manufacturer certifications that are difficult or impossible to procure.
AGC has received reports from multiple chapters that state legislatures are considering establishing or strengthening their government procurements laws regarding domestic sourcing. Many of these efforts would restrict access to well-established global supply chains and increase the administrative burden on contractors. To certify that products and materials used in the construction process meet requirements, it will often necessitate manufacturer certifications that are difficult or impossible to procure.
In addition to the Department of Labor, the Transportation Department (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have released their top regulatory priorities for 2012. Below is a list of regulations from these two agencies that have the potential to impact the construction industry, if finalized.
AGC has joined Municipal Bonds for America, a new coalition designed to educate lawmakers about the municipal bond market and the impact that the tax-exemption that which enables state and local governments to finance vital infrastructure at the lowest cost to their taxpayers. AGC joins a growing membership comprised of bond issuers, regional bond dealers, and state and local government organizations all dedicated to making sure municipal bonds maintain their current status.
Voters in this election approved more than 380 ballot initiatives totaling more than $30 billion in state, local, and school bond measures. With municipal bond yields at some of the lowest rates since the ‘60s, many cities and states decided that this was the year to go for big infrastructure projects. States and municipalities were asking for $37 billion, so their success rate was over 80 percent, higher even than the average success rate for presidential election years (since 1948), which is 76.3 percent. Yet the $37 billion in approval sought was significantly less than the $67 billion sought in 2008.