Author: agcnews

The COVID-19 crisis portends a new and troubling outlook for union construction contractors participating in multiemployer pension plans. While many multiemployer pension plans had been recovering enough from the 2007–2009 Great Recession to have their current funding levels approach or exceed their pre-Great Recession funding levels, the COVID-19 crisis threatens those recoveries and the solvency of the most financially troubled plans. While AGC of America continues to actively advocate for legislative reforms to help, proactive employers participating in multiemployer plans should anticipate how plans’ potential financial downturn will affect their finances and the retirement benefits of their unionized employees and…

The Senate Armed Services Committee released its version of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2021 (NDAA). The defense bill authorizes $8.15 billion for military construction, $955 million provides for previously unfunded military construction requirements, and focuses on the facility sustainment backlog. The Senate NDAA also prohibits Department of Defense (DOD) from conducting additional base realignments and closures in fiscal year 2021. Some notable provisions in the FY2021 NDAA that are important to AGC members include: AGC will continue to monitor and advocate policy reforms in the NDAA as it works its way through the Senate and House of Representatives. For…

Two recent immigration policy changes highlight the need for Congress to enact permanent immigration reform. First, on June 18, the Supreme Court ruled that recipients under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) can continue to legally work in the country. The decision was the result of recent Trump Administration actions that attempted to roll back the 2012 DACA program. While the decision allows an estimated 80,000 DACA recipients working in the construction industry to continue to do so, the decision presents an opportunity for the Trump administration to continue pursuing an end to the program. It remains important for Congress to…

After testifying before the Senate Small Business Committee that information about Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans would remain “confidential,” Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin announced on Friday, June 19, that loan information for recipients of PPP loans in excess of $150,000 would be publicly disclosed. To address concerns from businesses about disclosing payroll data, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Treasury said loan information—including business names, addresses, NAICS codes, zip codes, business types, demographic data, non-profit information, and jobs supported—would be released in a range, rather than specific loan amounts. The ranges are: $150,000 – $350,000 $350,000 – $1 million…

On July 23, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the AGC-backed Great American Outdoors Act, which especially helps address the needs of National Parks Service infrastructure and facilities. The bill would establish the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Fund, which would direct $9.5 billion in non-taxpayer monies over five years to address priority repairs in national parks and on other public lands controlled and operated by the Department of the Interior and its agencies. A minimum of 65 percent of the fund would be dedicated to non-transportation projects, such as building construction. The remaining parts of the fund would…

The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in reaction to the release today of a proposed House measure, known as The Moving Forward Act, that seeks to invest $1.5 trillion in infrastructure: “House leaders understand that one of the best ways to promote new economic growth is by investing in the nation’s aging, and often over-burdened, infrastructure. These investments will create needed new construction careers, promote demand for new construction equipment and materials, and ensure that the economy will be more efficient and effective for years to come. The…

On June 17, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Department of the Treasury released a revised Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application, implementing the fixes from the AGC-backed Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act enacted June 5. The agencies also released a streamlined “EZ version” of loan forgiveness application that may be used in limited circumstances. The EZ application requires fewer calculations and less documentation for eligible borrowers. Details regarding the applicability of these provisions are available in the instructions to the new EZ application form. Both applications give borrowers the option of using the original 8-week covered period (if their loan…

On June 16, led by Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), 26 Senators called on Leaders McConnell and Schumer to support approximately $50 billion in immediate federal funding for state departments of transportation (DOTs) in the next COVID-19 response package. AGC, along with other transportation construction stakeholders, spearheaded this effort. Such funding is essential to ensure transportation projects can proceed as planned and to help protect essential construction jobs. For more information, contact Cory Gattie at cory.gattie@agc.org.

On June 17, U.S. Senate passed (75-23) the AGC-backed Great American Outdoors Act, which especially helps address the needs of National Parks Service infrastructure and facilities. The bill would establish the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Fund, which would direct $9.5 billion in non-taxpayer monies over five years to address priority repairs in national parks and on other public lands controlled and operated by the Department of the Interior and its agencies. A minimum of 65 percent of the fund would be dedicated to non-transportation projects, such as building construction. The remaining parts of the fund would be available for roads,…

On June 15, Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) introduced the Expedited Delivery of Airport Infrastructure Act, legislation that would ensure Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds can be used to provide incentive payments to contractors for early completion of eligible projects. Rather than the owner agency establishing unrealistic completion dates, which could discourage some contractors from bidding on those projects, incentive payments allow contractors to determine how best to earn the incentive. This AGC-supported measure passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in February. AGC will continue to support this measure as it moves forward in the legislative process.…