While calling for a five year freeze in government spending in his State of the Union address, President Obama nevertheless also called for the need to invest in infrastructure.

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee began debate on reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU with a hearing Wednesday on “Transportation’s Role in Supporting Our Economy and Job Creation.”

Just prior to President Obama’s State of the Union speech –where he called for increased federal investment in areas of our economy, including transportation infrastructure – the House of Representatives passed a resolution to “transition” non-security spending for FY 2011 to FY 2008 levels. 

Yesterday the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held their organizational meeting to approve the Committee rules and oversight plan, as well as subcommittee chairs, ranking members and membership assignments. 

In a series of surprise moves, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it had withdrawn two separate proposed rules that would have had the potential to significantly impact the construction industry.

In the U.S. Senate Tuesday Senators introduced separate measures to repeal the Form 1099 paperwork mandate enacted in last year’s massive healthcare law, and to repeal the 3 percent withholding requirement on payments to government vendors. 

The House voted 245 to 189 this week to repeal the health care law. The vote marked the first in a series of efforts by House Republicans to honor their pledge during the campaign season to replace last year’s law.

In an attempt to meet Republican calls for ending a regulatory environment that is stifling job creation and economic growth, President Obama on January 18 signed an executive order requiring all agencies to review federal regulations that are too burdensome.

The House Rules committee on Wednesday marked-up a resolution to “transition” non-security spending for FY 2011 to FY 2008 levels.

The House Republican Conference met Tuesday to consider a rules package that will govern how issues can be addressed in the 112th Congress.