Author: agcnews
This episode highlights some of the more unique and innovative aspects of how construction firms have adapted their operations and established new work routines to mitigate against the spread of the virus – so they can continue to work in a SAFE and ESSENTIAL manner. Learn from your peers as you hear Frank Baxter (Skanska USA Building), Mayone Sallows (Butz Family of Companies) and Felipe Serrano (The Beck Group) share how they are making use of technology advancements as well as some rudimentary systems to shift behaviors and change practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests:Frank Baxter | EHS Director |…
The Associated General Contractors of America’s chief executive officer, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in reaction to the release of compromise coronavirus relief legislation slated for House and Senate votes as early as today: “The new coronavirus recovery measure announced today should provide some needed relief for a construction industry that is coping with project cancellations and job losses in most parts of the country. Most notably, the measure includes $10 billion in needed funding to help address the pandemic-induced shortfalls in state transportation revenues. This new funding should keep a number of road projects from getting canceled…
GBCA’s CLC has dedicated itself to help emerging construction professionals build relationships in the industry. The CLC’s Virtual Coffee Chats are putting leading construction executives and newer construction professionals into the (virtual) room together. With COVID-19 response mostly eliminating in-person events in the Philadelphia region, GBCA’s CLC has worked to ensure that emerging professionals are able to introduce themselves to the industry’s leaders. The CLC’s Virtual Coffee Chats feature a construction executive sharing their stories of how they became leaders in the industry and answering questions from the audience. These 30-minute morning conversations create a casual and comfortable atmosphere for…
Construction employment in November remained below pre-pandemic levels in 35 states and the District of Columbia even though 31 states and D.C. added construction jobs from October to November, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data released today. Association officials urged federal officials to swiftly renew a program to enable firms to keep workers on their payrolls while the pandemic is pushing back the start date for many projects. “An increase in project cancellations and postponements is forcing nonresidential contractors to lay off workers as they complete projects started before the pandemic and firms…
President-elect Joe Biden campaigned on reversing the Trump Administration’s regulatory reforms in the environmental arena and ramping up efforts to address climate change and environmental justice. Biden is currently working with his transition team to review potential nominees to head up the key environmental regulatory agencies and new climate leadership positions that he intends to create within the White House. Biden’s campaign website included a detailed plan for a “Clean Energy Revolution and Environmental Justice.” The plan promised to “sign a series of new executive orders with unprecedented reach that go well beyond the Obama-Biden Administration platform” related to climate. It also pledged to weigh…
AGC has been tracking several regulatory actions relevant to construction that may be advanced in the last weeks of the Trump Administration. AGC considers below what has recently been released and what remains to be completed, as well as, which actions may be vulnerable to change during a Biden Administration. What Can Reasonably Be Accomplished on Trump’s Regulatory Agenda in the Time Remaining? The Trump Administration continues to push forward with a full regulatory initiative as seen in its Unified Agenda, released on December 9. AGC is tracking several rules and guidance, some of which are at the Office of Management and Budget…
On December 15, President-elect Joe Biden nominated former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg to become the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). As one of the few candidates in the presidential field to introduce a full infrastructure plan, Buttigieg supported transitioning the nation from the current motor fuels tax to a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) user fee. AGC looks forward to learning more about Mayor Buttigieg’s vision for USDOT during his Senate confirmation hearing and, if confirmed, looks forward to working with his Department to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure.
On December 4, the House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (H.R. 3884), which would remove marijuana from the federally controlled substances list and thereby leave individual states to determine whether or not to legalize it. AGC leads—with the National Safety Coalition and other construction groups—the call for Congress to consider the impacts of such an approach on workplace safety and help with developing an evidence-based standard for detecting marijuana impairment before passing such legislation. The bill is not unlikely to be considered by the Senate in 2020. As such, it will have to start the legislative process…
The EEOC has released COVID-19 vaccination-related guidance, including information about employer-mandated vaccinations for employees. The guidance can be found in the EEOC’s existing resource on COVID: What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws. The new COVID-19 vaccination-related guidance answers the following questions: ADA and Title VII Issues Regarding Mandatory Vaccinations ADA and Vaccinations Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and COVID-19 Vaccinations In response to inquiries from the public, the EEOC has provided resources on its website related to the pandemic in an employment context. AGC will continues to…
On Dec. 8, AGC filed suit against the Small Business Administration (SBA), seeking to compel the agency to restrict its use of the “Loan Necessity Questionnaire” now going out to all companies seeking forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans over $2 million – and ultimately, to compel SBA to revise the form itself. The details lie in the thirty-page complaint that AGC filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. AGC recognizes that SBA has every right and even an obligation to ensure that companies were eligible for the PPP loans they are now asking SBA to forgive. But AGC…