Tell Congress to avert the across-the-board and indiscriminate cuts totaling $4 billion to federal construction accounts for FY 2013 scheduled to occur under sequestration.  Unless Congress enacts a repeal or delay by March 1, sequestration—spending cuts totaling $85 billion for the rest of FY 2013, and about $1.2 trillion over 10 years—will begin.

On Wednesday, the White House issued a fact sheet providing more detail on the infrastructure proposal from President Obama’s State of the Union Address.   The Administration’s plan recognizes the need to continue focusing on our nation’s growing infrastructure needs, but falls short in addressing the long-term financial challenges of the federal infrastructure programs.  The summary of the President’s plan can be found here.

Earlier this week, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a joint final rule implementing new regulations to speed up the environmental approval process for the repair or reconstruction of any road, highway, or bridge damaged in an emergency declared by either the state’s governor or the president.

Two small, separate groups in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House continue to work on developing proposals for immigration reform. The president also had his framework for comprehensive immigration  reform “leaked” this week and with specific text on E-Verify and employment verification, border security, and legalization.  AGC is encouraged by the momentum building on reform efforts, and find that many of our priorities are consistent with the overall goals of both the Administration and Congress, despite the fact that they contain several problems for the industry that AGC will continue to work on prior to legislation being introduced.

On Feb. 15, Representative Rodney Alexander (R-La.) introduced legislation on the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) proposed rule making major changes to the rules governing federal contractor affirmative action programs for individuals with disabilities ("Section 503"). More information on the proposed rule can be found on the AGC website. The legislation introduced, H.R. 759, the Equal Standards in Hiring Americans Act, would require DOL to abide by the same hiring regulations it is attempting to impose on federal contractors.

After 18 months of deliberation, the National Coordinating Committee for Multi-Employer Plans’ Retirement Security Review Commission – comprised of stakeholders from both business and labor groups, including AGC of America – publicly released a comprehensive proposal to safeguard retirement security for multi-employer plan participants that protects employers and taxpayers and spurs economic growth on Feb. 19. The Commission’s recommendations are included in a report, “Solutions not Bailouts:  A Comprehensive Plan from Business and Labor to Safeguard Multiemployer Retirement Security, Protect Taxpayers and Spur Economic Growth.”  

AGC will hold a special roundtable session that provides attendees with an opportunity to give input on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Safety Manual (EM-385) revision process directly to USACE and Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) safety representatives. The roundtable will be held April 24 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET during the 2013 AGC Federal Contractors Conference at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The AGC Annual Convention and Constructor Expo, held in Palm Springs, Calif. March 6-9, 2013, is the ideal opportunity to see everything that AGC can do for you and your business, as well as to learn from industry peers and experts on how they are overcoming today’s challenges.

First term Nebraska Sen. Mike Johanns (R) announced that he will not seek re-election next year. Johanns, a former U.S. Agriculture Secretary, two-term Nebraska Governor, Mayor, and county commissioner was elected to the Senate in 2008, defeating rancher Scott Kleeb 58 to 40 percent. He appeared to be a lock for a second term, but says he and his wife desire to return to "a quieter life" after what will be 32 years in public office.

This week, AGC sent a letter opposing the possible use of a project labor agreement (PLA) mandate posted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Albuquerque District for an upcoming project at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.