Congress returned to Washington this week facing a busy legislative agenda. With several priorities competing for attention, AGC members are urged to keep the repeal of 3 percent government withholding in the forefront.

With early voting underway in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District special election, Republicans outpace Democrats to the polls, a good sign for AGC PAC-backed candidate Mark Amodei (R). In Reno’s Washoe County, the most populous county in the district, Republicans account for 52 percent of the voters who have cast ballots early, compared with just 37 percent who have been Democrats. In Carson City, the state’s capital, the disparity is even greater: Republicans are out-voting Democrats 58 percent to 30 percent. In both places, the rate of Republican voting is out-performing party registration rates.

While Congress is out of town, wrapping up their August break, AGC members continue to meet with them locally to advocate on behalf of the industry. Last week, representatives of the Kansas City Chapter met with U.S. Representative Sam Graves (R-MO).

President Obama joined the call by congressional infrastructure leaders and announced plans to streamline the complex and sometimes time consuming federal permitting and review processes.  The memorandum instructs agencies to:

The nation’s rural roads and bridges are rapidly deteriorating, causing the fatality rate along back roads to triple the national average for highway fatalities, according to a new report on rural road conditions released today. The report’s findings prompted members of the business, construction and transportation communities to call for passage of long-delayed federal legislation to fund road repairs and bridge maintenance.

The debt ceiling compromise agreed to earlier this summer established the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the “Super Committee.”  This committee is charged with making recommendations for a long term solution to the Nation’s fiscal woes. In addition President Obama has established a jobs council to develop recommendations for spurring job growth and has requested time next week to address a joint session of Congress to present his proposals. 

In a speech from the Rose Garden yesterday, President Barack Obama called on Congress to extend authorization of funding for the highway, transit and aviation programs as well as authorization for collecting the federal gas tax. The President warned of dire consequences for construction workers and their families across the country if these programs are allowed to lapse. AGC’s CEO, Stephen Sandherr, participated in the event to highlight the impact of inaction on the construction industry and to emphasize the need for Congress to act quickly upon its return from its August recess to ensure that a short term extension of the highway, transit and aviation programs are put in place and that a long term solution is found.

In a memorandum to House Republicans Monday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) put repeal of the 3 percent withholding mandate on the Republican Party’s legislative agenda this fall to provide tax relief for American employers.  The House is expected to consider the legislation as early as October.

On Eve of Obama’s Infrastructure Initiative, American Institute of Architects and the Associated General Contractors of America Unite to Promote Design and Construction

Whether congressional members are in Washington, D.C., or at home in the district, AGC Polical Action Committee (PAC) is there to ensure lawmakers to hear about AGC’s legislative priorities. During this current congressional recess, AGC of Kentucky members presented Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.) with a PAC contribution on August 19 for his long-time support of the construction industry. AGC members discussed a number of issues with Rep. Davis, including repealing the 3% withholding tax, private activity bond volume cap and reauthorization of the federal highway and transit programs.