On May 31, the House passed the FY 2013 Military Constriction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, providing $71.7 billion in discretionary funding for military construction and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This funding level matches the FY 2012 enacted level, but falls $694 million below President Obama’s FY 2013 request.

A policy rider that would bar the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency from implementing their guidance on Clean Water Act Jurisdiction survived an amendment offered by Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.). The amendment would have stripped the provision out of the Energy and Water Appropriations bill. The Moran Amendment failed by a vote of 152-237. The original rider was introduced by Rep. Dennis Rehberg (R-Mont.) during the Committee markup and passed by a vote of 29-20. As an Appropriations rider, this provision is only able to de-fund implementation of the Guidance for one year.

Today, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a markup on the Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2012, which would help reform the nation’s job training system by strengthening employer engagement in state and local workforce decisions, as well as by giving states and localities more flexibility. AGC sent a letter to the committee outlining AGC’s support for a strong and skilled workforce.

AGC recently submitted comments on a proposed rule issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) that addressed federal enforcement of state damage prevention laws. This proposed rule establishes the criteria for determining the adequacy of state enforcement of pipeline damage prevention laws and proposes a process for federal enforcement under the authority of the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Safety, and Enforcement (PIPES) Act of 2006.

Today, the House of Representatives will vote on a Motion to Instruct conferees to slash FY 2013 funding on the surface transportation reauthorization bill.  The Motion to Instruct was offered by Representative Paul Broun (R-GA) and would limit funding in FY 2013 to $37.5 for federal highway and transit programs.  A Motion to Instruct is non-binding and, if it is adopted, it simply asks House conferees to take a certain negotiating position. 

On May 31, the House passed the FY 2013 Military Constriction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, providing $71.7 billion in discretionary funding for military construction and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This funding level matches the FY 2012 enacted level, but falls $694 million below President Obama’s FY 2013 request.

Speaker Boehner Hints at 6-Month Extension Negotiations between the House and Senate over their separate versions of a transportation authorization bill accelerated somewhat this week when Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), together with Ranking Committee Republican Jim Inhofe (Okla.), personally delivered an offer of compromise language on provisions to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.). The “offer” was received by the House as a positive gesture. Chairman Mica said the House conferees would begin making "sequential counteroffers" today.

Today, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation approved the FY 2013 transportation spending bill, which included funding for the federal-aid highway program at $39.1 billion – the same level as FY 2012. The Senate approved its version of the appropriations bill last month, which provided the same level of funding as the House.

Today, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a markup on the Workforce Investment Improvement Act of 2012, which would help reform the nation’s job training system by strengthening employer engagement in state and local workforce decisions, as well as by giving states and localities more flexibility. AGC sent a letter to the committee outlining AGC’s support for a strong and skilled workforce.

AGC Submitted comments on a proposed rule issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) that addressed federal enforcement of state damage prevention laws. This proposed rule establishes the criteria for determining the adequacy of state enforcement of pipeline damage prevention laws and proposes a process for federal enforcement under the authority of the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Safety, and Enforcement (PIPES) Act of 2006.