On Feb. 2, 2012, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions held a hearing entitled, “Examining the Challenges Facing PBGC and Defined Benefit Pension Plans.” The hearing explored the financial and management challenges at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), as well as policy proposals intended to strengthen the financial standing of the PBGC.

Today, the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee began consideration of H.R. 7, the American Infrastructure and Infrastructure Act of 2012. Over 100 amendments will be considered. The committee began action at 9:00 a.m. and is still meeting on the legislation.  The committee markup was notable for the partisan bickering between the majority and minority over the drafting of the bill. No Democrats have cosponsored the bill.

AGC’s chief executive officer, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement today in reaction to newly-proposed surface transportation legislation released by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica: "Chairman Mica has done tremendous work pulling together legislation that provides the kind of comprehensive reforms needed to restore Americans’ faith in the federal highway and transit program. In particular, the legislation will significantly accelerate transportation improvements across the country by cutting the needless red tape and regulatory redundancies that have forced projects to languish for years awaiting federal approval to move forward. In addition, the legislation’s commitment to maintaining current funding levels, despite the current budgetary environment, reflects a fundamental appreciation for the broader economic benefits of investing in transportation infrastructure.

AGC PAC chimed in this week for Candidate Rob Cornilles (R) in the race to fill Oregon’s First District U.S. House seat. Cornilles faces off against former state Sen. Suzanne Bonamici (D) in the all-mail special election ending on Jan. 31 to replace ex-Rep. David Wu (D). Wu resigned in August 2011 amidst allegations of sexual and mental capacity scandals.

More than 40 PLA requirements removed or prevented AGC is again attacking agency efforts to impose Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects.  This week, AGC sent letters to the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) expressing strong concerns against their decisions to impose a PLA on three separate projects.

The week of Jan. 30 the House Small Business Committee will begin to roll out several major pieces of legislation to reform and modernize small business contracting.  AGC had the opportunity to provide input on many of the proposals that will be released over the next several weeks.

On Jan. 24, 2012, President Obama issued his State of the Union address to call on the federal government to reform itself by streamlining the federal government and cutting burdensome regulations for Americans who are still hurting from the recession.

With only 66 days remaining until the expiration of the latest highway and transit authorization extension, today AGC kicked-off a comprehensive grassroots and communications campaign asking Congress to take action on a reauthorization bill before March 31, 2012.

AGC secured two major legislative victories in the so-called “do-nothing” Congress in 2011, including: (1) repeal of the 3 percent tax withholding mandate on local, state and federal government contracts for goods and services; and (2) repeal of the expanded Form 1099 requirement that was a part of the controversial Health Care "reform”.  

On Dec. 9, 2011, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) proposed significant changes to its regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which would revise the nondiscrimination and affirmative action obligations of direct federal contractors and their subcontractors regarding individuals with disabilities.