Author: agcnews

On Jan. 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalized an AGC-supported rule to define “waters of the United States” – providing clarity when a federal permit is needed for work in or near federal waters. The new Navigable Waters Protection Rule better identifies federal waters, respects states’ primary role in land use and pollution prevention, and balances major case law from the last couple of decades. In brief, the rule extends federal protection to territorial seas and traditional navigable waters (TNWs); tributaries to TNWs; lakes, ponds, and impoundments of jurisdictional waters; and wetlands adjacent to…

ADMINISTRATION’S NEW WATERS RULE WILL PROTECT VITAL WATERWAYS WHILE ELIMINATING CONFUSION THAT THREATENED TO STIFLE MANY PROJECTS Trump Administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule Will Provide Permitting Clarity For Needed Infrastructure and Development Projects, Top Construction Official Notes 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 the Administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule: “This new clean water rule employs sound administrative policy to protect our vital waterways while providing permitting clarity for infrastructure and development projects to proceed in a timely manner. One reason our…

AGC of America’s Business Development Forum, with support from The Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), will offer free one-on-one Business Development (BD) “Check-Ups” to AGC Convention attendees to review and offer guidance on their BD and marketing related efforts. Subject matter experts from across the nation will be paired with attendees to answer questions and challenges relating to BD planning, sales, proposals, client presentations, branding, brochures, websites, social media, and more. The Free Business Development and Marketing Check-Up booths will be open Tuesday and Wednesday March 10 & 11 from 9:30-11:30 am PST. To learn more and sign up ahead…

As the year 2019 and Member Lauren McFerran’s term were both about to expire, the National Labor Relations Board (the Board or NRLB) reversed several noteworthy actions taken by the agency during the Obama Administration. In addition to its Dec. 13 issuance of a regulation curtailing the Obama Board’s controversial “quickie” or “ambush” election rule reported elsewhere, the Board issued decisions in some significant cases during the period, including the following: These decisions were welcomed news for employers, who can expect further employer-friendly rules and rulings in 2020. However, just as the Trump Board has successfully overturned Obama Board actions, employers…

Thu, 01/16/2020 – 08:45 On Jan. 7, the Senate confirmed AGC-backed nominee Jovita Carranza to lead the Small Business Administration (SBA). Administrator Carranza previously served as Treasurer of the United States at the Department of the Treasury under President Trump and served as Deputy Administrator for SBA under President George W. Bush. Prior to these appointments, Administrator Carranza spent 30 years working for the United Parcel Service (UPS). As administrator, she will be a key voice in shaping the administration’s pro-business agenda and advocating on behalf of the nation’s small businesses and contractors. For more information, contact Jordan Howard at jordan.howard@agc.org or (703) 837-5368.

Thu, 01/16/2020 – 08:45 On Jan. 15, the United States and China signed a modest ‘phase one’ trade agreement, signaling a major first step towards defusing tension in the trade war between the two nations. Under this initial agreement, the Trump administration will reduce the existing tariff rate on $120 billion worth of import goods from China, in addition to upholding its commitment to not impose further tariffs on Chinese goods. Although the agreement rolled back some of the import duties imposed on China, steep tariffs on $250 billion of goods remain. AGC applauds this initial agreement and will continue…

Thu, 01/16/2020 – 08:45 On Jan. 16, the Senate overwhelmingly passed (89-10) H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act (USMCA). Senate passage of this legislation clears the way for U.S. ratification of the newly negotiated trade pact between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Once President Trump signs the deal into law, Canada’s ratification is the final step before full implementation of the agreement. AGC has long supported this measure due to the significant economic impact trade with our North American neighbors has on the construction industry. Implementation of this new agreement will help ensure that trade impacting the construction industry supply chain remains…

Thu, 01/16/2020 – 08:15 As the year 2019 and Member Lauren McFerran’s term were both about to expire, the National Labor Relations Board (the Board or NRLB) reversed several noteworthy actions taken by the agency during the Obama Administration. In addition to its Dec. 13 issuance of a regulation curtailing the Obama Board’s controversial “quickie” or “ambush” election rule reported elsewhere, the Board issued decisions in some significant cases during the period, including the following: These decisions were welcomed news for employers, who can expect further employer-friendly rules and rulings in 2020. However, just as the Trump Board has successfully overturned…

“The administration is right to seek to make the review process more efficient and cost effective without sacrificing environmental protections, thereby allowing the public to receive and benefit from cleaner water, safer roads and bridges, and a more reliable energy system in a timelier fashion. Upon initial review, this proposal appears to do just that. “The problem with the current environmental review process is that it long ago stopped being about evaluating the environmental impacts of a proposed project and has become a way for special interest groups to further their agenda by holding needed infrastructure and development projects hostage to countless lawsuits…

The U. S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) released a final rule updating the regulations interpreting joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Under the FLSA, an employee may have, in addition to his or her employer, one or more joint employers—additional individuals or entities that are jointly and severally liable with the employer for the employee’s wages. The FLSA requires covered employers to pay their employees at least the federal minimum wage for every hour worked and overtime for every hour worked over 40 in a workweek. In 2017, the DOL withdrew the Obama administration’s sub-regulatory…