On Nov. 6, AGC sent a letter opposing a government-mandated project labor (PLA) inquiry posted by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC). NAVFAC Southwest sought industry comments on a possible PLA for a project at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, Calif. The job is for the design and repair of the medical center’s HVAC and ductwork systems valued at approximately $65 million.

Voters in this election approved more than 380 ballot initiatives totaling more than $30 billion in state, local, and school bond measures. With municipal bond yields at some of the lowest rates since the ‘60s, many cities and states decided that this was the year to go for big infrastructure projects. States and municipalities were asking for $37 billion, so their success rate was over 80 percent, higher even than the average success rate for presidential election years (since 1948), which is 76.3 percent. Yet the $37 billion in approval sought was significantly less than the $67 billion sought in 2008.

In Tuesday’s elections, voters opted for the status quo where the balance of power will remain shared among President Barack Obama, Senate Democrats and House Republicans.  Unlike the past three elections, which resulted in significant changes in incumbents and party control, the federal government essentially remains unchanged despite a reported $6 billion in advertising spending. Much of the change that did occur in congressional races was a result of the once-in-a-decade redistricting as a result of reapportionment.

Today, AGC held a post-election conference call that reviewed the election results and the impact they will have on the construction industry during the upcoming lame duck session and 113th Congress.  While the agenda for the next two years will be significantly impacted by what is and what is not accomplished in the lame duck, it will also depend heavily on the mood of Congress and whether they are ready, willing and able to do what needs to be done in order to create an environment that promotes the long-term economic growth our industry needs to prosper. This site includes our best estimate of what Congress will likely address over the next two years.

Forty years ago today, the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution went into effect. The Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972, known as the Clean Water Act (CWA), became law after the bill was vetoed by President Nixon.

While it’s unlikely that the issue will be raised during a lame duck session of Congress following the November elections, AGC will nevertheless continue to press for legislation that will keep the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating coal ash residues, including fly ash, as a hazardous substance. Legislation (H.R. 2273) to preempt EPA from regulating the waste as hazardous and instead empower states to establish disposal programs was passed with bipartisan support in the House last October. H.R. 2273 was added as an amendment to the House-passed version of the transportation reauthorization legislation. However, when the reauthorization bill – MAP-21 – was reported from the House- Senate conference committee, this provision was dropped.

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, voters will elect thousands of state and local leaders, 435 U.S. Representatives, 33 U.S. Senators, 11 Governors and a President. Each and every one of these elected officials has the ability to positively or negatively shape legislation affecting our companies and our communities.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Sept. 6 asking for comments on the significant changes made to its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) rules. Comments are due by Nov. 5. The proposal suggests a series of changes in the bidding process, including requiring contractors to submit a list of DBEs that will be used on a project with their bid.

While it’s unlikely that the issue will be raised during a lame duck session of Congress following the November elections, AGC will nevertheless continue to press for legislation that will keep the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating coal ash residues, including fly ash, as a hazardous substance.

On Oct. 9, the ranking Democrat of the House Appropriations Committee Rep. Norm Dicks sent a letter urging his House colleagues to replace sequestration with a balanced approach to deficit reduction.  Unless Congress acts during the lame duck session, sequestration—a process of automatic and indiscriminate across-the-board cuts of $109 billion to defense and non-defense discretionary spending—would occur on Jan. 2, 2013.