Several states are looking to increase their transportation investments by increasing revenue sources. AGC chapters are working in support of these efforts. Some of the more high profile initiatives include:

At the end of last week, Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) became the first 2014 election cycle Senator to announce that he will not seek re-election. The move is not a surprise, particularly in light of several factors: his age (the Senator will be 77 by the next election); the attacks he has launched on his home state’s coal industry; a previously Democratic West Virginia now swinging decidedly toward Republicans; and a tough new opponent in the guise of Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.-2), who announced her own Senatorial bid earlier this month.

Early-Bird Rates Expire Soon! The AGC Annual Convention and Constructor Expo 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.

The AGC Financial Issues Forum (formerly the AGC Tax and Fiscal Affairs Committee) met last week in Scottsdale, Ariz.  The group of construction CFO’s and CPA’s discussed tax law and accounting policies, including: an update from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on their leasing project; a detailed discussion about the latest regulations issued to implement the Affordable Care Act and what they mean for construction industry employers; the AICPA small company reporting framework; the Taxpayer Relief Act and other possible tax reform legislation in the 113th Congress; and the AGC legislative agenda for the 113th Congress.

Since Election Day, AGC has sent nine letters opposing the possible use of project labor agreement (PLA) mandates posted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) around the country.  In the last week alone, AGC has sent letters in response to three USACE PLA inquiries from: (1) the Los Angeles District on a project at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.; (2) the Baltimore District on projects within the Baltimore-Washington Corridor; and (3) the Louisville District on a project at Fort Campbell, Ky.

This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 152, the Disaster Relief Act of 2013, which provides $50.7 billion in funding for relief and recovery efforts in the states impacted by Hurricane Sandy.   The bill passed by a vote of 241 – 180, with 49 Republicans and 192 Democrats voting yes and 179 Republicans and 1 Democrat voting no.  The bill now goes to the Senate, which reconvenes next week after the Presidential Inauguration.

This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 152, the Disaster Relief Act of 2013, which provides $50.7 billion in funding for relief and recovery efforts in the states impacted by Hurricane Sandy.   The bill passed by a vote of 241 – 180, with 49 Republicans and 192 Democrats voting yes and 179 Republicans and 1 Democrat voting no.  The bill now goes to the Senate, which reconvenes next week after the Presidential Inauguration.

On Jan. 14, AGC hosted representatives from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, General Services Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs to participate in a roundtable discussion with industry groups on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) consideration of new nationwide rules that would expand and strengthen the current federal Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) Program requirements. Specifically, EPA is looking at expanding the LRRP Program to include renovations of both the exteriors and interiors of public and commercial buildings.

The 2013 AGC Federal Contractors Conference will be held April 23-25, 2013, at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. This meeting is the only national event where contractors and federal agency personnel can meet in a collaborative forum to review federal construction contracting issues and trends from around the United States. These insightful and highly productive exchanges have solidified the need for both federal construction contractors and the federal construction agencies to share information on a wide variety of issues, foster better communication, and create real solutions.

On Jan. 8, AGC sent two letters opposing government-mandated project labor (PLA) inquiries posted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).  USACE sought industry comments on possible PLAs for projects outside of New Orleans, La. and Los Angeles, Calif. The former project involves levee work as part of the hurricane protection system and the latter is for the replacement of a JP-8 Bulk Fuel Storage at Edwards Air Force Base.