Bill Reduces Funding for Military and VA Construction Accounts On June 4, the House voted by a 421-4 margin to approve its version of the FY 2014 funding bill for military construction and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill provides $9.95 billion for Department of Defense military construction accounts—a $670 million reduction from pre-sequestration FY 2013 levels and $1.057 billion for VA construction accounts—about an $82 million decrease from FY 2013 levels, as VA accounts were exempt from sequestration.

Temporary Guest Worker Visa Program Places AGC-Opposed Restrictions on Construction in Current Immigration Bill The Senate will consider the immigration bill, S. 744, Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, in June.  The legislation remains largely intact from the Gang of Eight’s original proposal. S. 744 mandates e-verify; requires photo identification as part of the documentation; eliminates the patchwork of local immigration laws; provides new avenues for legal immigration; and creates a legal status for undocumented workers currently in the United States. The bill also prohibits employers from “knowingly” hiring an undocumented worker.  In addition, the bill includes a temporary worker program.  However, the program places unique restrictions on the construction industry that prevent the industry from fully utilizing the future temporary worker visa program. The House has not formally considered any legislation, but several proposals that deal with reform in a piecemeal basis have been introduced. The House is expected to begin consideration of legislation after the Senate acts on S. 744.

TAKE ACTION: Urge Your Representative to Support Counting Lower-Tier Small Businesses On June 4, House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.), along with Reps. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.), Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), introduced the AGC-supported Make Every Small Business Count Act of 2013, H.R. 2232. Please take action now and urge your Congressman to support H.R. 2232.

Across the country, “patent trolls” are threatening to sue AGC members for making use of any “system” for scanning documents and then emailing the resulting files to employees or others.  In letters sent to at least 16 members, including six in Missouri, these folks have demanded a licensing fee for making use of any such “system,” and they have threatened litigation for patent infringement unless the contractor agrees to pay.

Former presidential candidate and four-term U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.-6) announced via video that she will not seek re-election next year.  Drawing a parallel between the eight-year term limit placed upon the office of President, Bachmann said that such amount of time was appropriate for a House member to serve, as well.

Issue Discussed Last Week at OSHA Advisory Committee for Construction Safety and Health Meeting On May 22, 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced plans to extend the compliance date for its crane operator certification requirement to Nov. 10, 2017, in order to re-open the record on operator certification.

A letter is being circulated among members of the House by Reps. Ruppersberger (R-Md.) and Hultgren (R-Ill.) that expresses concern over proposals to tax or partially tax municipal bond interest. The letter requests that leadership not pursue these policy proposals. AGC members are asked to write to their member of Congress asking them to sign on and protect this important infrastructure finance tool.

TAKE ACTION: Urge Your Representative to Oppose Bid ListingLegislation Rep. Carolyn Maloney recently introduced the Construction Quality Assurance Act of 2013, H.R. 1942, which would mandate general contractors’ bid listing of subcontractors for federal projects. Specifically, if enacted, H.R. 1942 would require general contractors who bid directly with federal construction agencies on projects over $1 million to list each subcontractor that will perform over $100,000 of work on their bids. AGC urges members to TAKE ACTION and urge your Representative to oppose H.R. 1942.

AGC Advocacy Efforts Help Bring Large Bipartisan Victory On May 15, the Senate overwhelmingly passed its version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA) by an 83-14 vote. Although the Senate passed the bill by a large, bipartisan margin, 14 senators voted against the bill. Those senators include: Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Lee (R-Utah), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.). Please click here to thank or to express disappointment to your senators on their vote.

Today, the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed legislation on a bipartisan basis to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The legislation, The Northern Route Approval Act (H.R. 3) was passed by a vote 33-24 with Democrats Cheri Bustos (Ill.) and Sean Patrick Maloney (N.Y.) joining all committee Republicans in voting yes.  Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) voted present.