Author: agcnews

On August 13, a federal prohibition on the use of certain telecommunications components took effect. The new Interim Final Rule (IFR), often referred to as “Section 889 Part B,” prohibits federal agencies from entering into, extending, or renewing a contract with a contractor that uses any equipment, system, or service that utilizes certain Chinese companies’ telecommunications equipment or services as a component or critical technology of any system, unless an exception applies or a waiver is granted. The Department of Defense issued a memo on this measure, explaining that federal contractors should expect change orders or other required affirmations of a contractor’s compliance with this…

Construction employment increased by 20,000 jobs in July but the gains were limited to housing, while employment related to infrastructure and nonresidential building construction slipped by 4,000, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials cautioned that non-housing construction job losses will continue unless the federal government provides infrastructure funding for state and local budgets, enacts liability reforms and other relief measures. “It is gratifying that the construction industry continued to add jobs in July, but last month’s gains were entirely in residential building and specialty trades,” said Ken Simonson,…

Earlier this week AGC joined nearly 200 companies, unions and organizations in a letter urging Congress to include COBRA funding in the next COVID relief package. COBRA is important for the continuation of job-based health insurance for the Americans that have recently lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. AGC recognizes the importance of keeping the employer-provided health care system operating and federal subsidies will provide certainty for plans and the recently separated participants. Congress provided similar relief in response to the 2009 recession. For additional information, please contact Jim Young, Senior Director, Congressional Relations for Labor, HR and Safety…

This week, AGC helped lead a coalition effort with the International Franchise Association (IFA) calling on Congress to expand the availability of “second draw” Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for small businesses. A provision in the Senate GOP COVID relief proposal would allow small businesses to apply for a second PPP loan, but with stricter criteria than for the original PPP loans. One of the new requirements for second draw loans is that a business demonstrate a 50 percent loss in revenue. AGC called for lowering the revenue loss threshold, so that additional small businesses qualify. Shortly thereafter, the Chair and Ranking…

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) released additional guidance for employers with certain federal contracts regarding paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA). The guidance provides compliance assistance to employers with service contracts with the federal government covered by the Service Contract Act and federal construction contracts covered by the Davis-Bacon Act. Specifically, the guidance addresses whether federal contractors must include fringe benefits when they pay employees paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave under the FFCRA along with any potential interaction with Executive Order (EO) 13706,…

As of August 6, negotiations between the White House and Democratic congressional leaders continue with diminishing hope of reaching a bipartisan agreement on another COVID-relief bill. The biggest hurdle remains a path forward on the CARES Act $600/week federal unemployment insurance (UI) benefit, which expired on July 31. With construction jobs, markets and the future of the industry on the line, AGC has focused its advocacy efforts on pressing for significant infrastructure construction investment, sensible liability protections for construction businesses, and a transition away from the $600/week UI benefit that has created an artificial barrier for some workers to return…

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) released additional guidance for employers with certain federal contracts regarding paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA). The guidance provides compliance assistance to employers with service contracts with the federal government covered by the Service Contract Act and federal construction contracts covered by the Davis-Bacon Act. Specifically, the guidance addresses whether federal contractors must include fringe benefits when they pay employees paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave under the FFCRA along with any potential interaction with Executive Order (EO) 13706,…

Construction spending declined for the fourth consecutive month in June as decreases in single-family, highway and educational projects outweighed increases in several private nonresidential categories, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. As state and local government face budget deficits, association officials cautioned that investments in infrastructure and other construction projects are likely to continue falling unless Congress and the Trump administration provide additional, targeted and dedicated infrastructure funding. “Regrettably, the overall downward trend in spending is likely to continue and to spread to more project types as work that began…

AGC of America has created a special report called We Kept America Building. This new report details AGC of America’s response to the Coronavirus and highlights examples of how AGC has supported the industry during the pandemic. Click HERE to view the full report. We have also created a short video: The following one-pager for AGC chapters can be used to highlight local efforts and how they kept contractors from their states working during the pandemic. Click HERE to download the interactive PDF file.

On July 28, AGC joined fellow construction employer groups and building trades unions in support of new retirement plans, Composite Plans, which enjoy bipartisan backing in Congress. These groups recognize the importance to preserve lifetime retirement benefits for millions of working men and women and will continue to advocate for pension reform in COVID-19 relief packages. The construction groups and unions take direct aim at opponents of Composite Plans who have failed to provide any legitimate criticism of the composite plan design plan model. An additional Composite Plan resource from June included new analysis that found Composite Plans would have fared better during the…