The Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works held a hearing today concerning “the Federal Role in Keeping Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Affordable.” AGC’s testimony emphasized several financing tools that would help contractors and their local government partners build the nation’s water/wastewater infrastructure. AGC also called for increased appropriations to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds (SRFs), enacting a long-term dedicated revenue stream for water/wastewater infrastructure (like a water trust fund), resurrecting the Build America bonds program, funding the new WIFIA program of direct federal loans and loan guarantees, and unlocking private capital by making private activity bonds for water and sewer exempt from the PAB volume cap. AGC and its coalition partners in the Water Infrastructure Network will continue to advocate for every method of increasing funding and financing for water/wastewater infrastructure.

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a new hard-hitting enforcement initiative to crack down on violations of worker safety and environmental laws. AGC members are urged to take note that the federal government seeks to investigate and enforce alleged safety violations in conjunction with environmental crimes, which carry much harsher fines and significant jail time. In its announcement, the Department stated its belief that environmental offenses often occur in conjunction with worker safety violations. Given the government’s coordinated response and potential ramifications for industry, AGC members may want to consider the benefits of pursing an integrated health, safety and environmental program

The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement today in response to the Treasury Department’s refusal to accept a rescue plan by the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas, Health and Welfare Pension Funds to take a voluntary steps to keep the funds solvent:

AGC and its industry coalition partners in the Water Infrastructure Network havebeen working for a number of months to get significant water infrastructure provisions included in the 2016 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in the Senate. We were successful in getting many important provisions approved by the Committee. The bill creates a longtime AGC priority, a Clean Water Trust Fund, and, while this bill itself does not carry additional funding, it authorizes voluntary contributions to the trust fund. Creation of a trust fund dedicated to water infrastructure opens many new possibilities for future dedicated revenue prospects.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is asking for public input on its proposed 2017 Construction General Permit, which authorizes stormwater discharge from construction sites. Although the Agency’s general permit directly applies in only a handful of states and territories, it serves as a national model for state-issued Construction General Permits. AGC needs your help in crafting comments on how the proposed permit will significantly impact construction operations and overall environmental management on regulated construction sites. Please provide any comments to Leah Pilconis at pilconisl@agc.org by May 6. AGC has prepared a discussion document to facilitate members’ input.

On April 1, AGC submitted comments to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission opposing its proposal to revise the Employer Information Report (EEO-1). The proposal intends to collect compensation and hours-worked data, in addition to already collected race and gender data, from all employers with 100 or more employees. Prime and first-tier subcontractors who perform work directly for the federal government and have 50 or more employees would be required to submit the currently used EEO-1 report that does not include compensation and hours-worked data. Employers with fewer than 100 employees, second-tier and lower federal subcontractors with fewer than 100 employees, all federally-assisted contractors with fewer than 100 employees, and prime and first-tier subcontractors with fewer than 50 employees will not be required to complete either version of the EEO-1 report.

The Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works will hold a hearing concerning “the Federal Role in Keeping Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Affordable.” AGC submitted testimony for the record emphasizing support for several financing tools that would help contractors and their local government partners build the nation’s water/wastewater infrastructure. AGC called for increased appropriations to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds (SRFs), enacting a long-term dedicated revenue stream for water/wastewater infrastructure (like a water trust fund), resurrecting the Build America bonds program, funding the new WIFIA program of direct federal loans and loan guarantees, and unlocking private capital by making private activity bonds for water and sewer exempt from the PAB volume cap. AGC and its coalition partners in the Water Infrastructure Network will continue to advocate for every method of increasing funding and financing for water/wastetwaer infrastructure.

Both Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Bernie Sanders (I/D-Vt.) handily exceeded expectations in Wisconsin last night. Cruz, in particular, had an impressive night, hovering around the 50 percent mark throughout the counting and finished two points under the majority threshold. Donald Trump notched only 35 percent, while Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) came up short with just 14 percent. In the all-important delegate count, Sen. Cruz scored a 36-6 delegate victory over Trump, with Kasich being shut out.

President Obama pushed for tax reform today, urging Congress to close corporate loopholes that allow firms to legally avoid paying taxes. The president’s plan, however, would not lower the individual tax rate, which a majority of AGC members use to file their taxes as pass-through entities. AGC continues to meet with key congressional decision-makers and staff to advocate for comprehensive changes to the tax code that lowers the rates for all business types, reduces the effective tax rate on construction companies, simplifies the tax code and uses reform as an opportunity to shore up infrastructure trust funds and expand infrastructure incentives.

Contact Your Legislators and Urge Them to Oppose the Proposed Rule as Written The Department of Labor has proposed a change to overtime pay requirements that would increase the minimum salary threshold from $23,660 per year to $50,440 per year. Employers that have employees who are currently classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and earn an annual salary less than the proposed $50,440 will be impacted.