Author: agcnews
Nicole Nason, Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will address the Highway and Transportation Division on during AGC’s 2020 Convention in Las Vegas this March. As FHWA Administrator, Nason is currently spearheading development of the Trump administration’s principles on FAST Act reauthorization. A leading traffic safety advocate, Nason headed up the National Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) during the George W. Bush administration and served in several other USDOT positions prior to her appointment to lead to organization. During the division meeting, Nason will give her insights into the outlook for reauthorization this year and highlight the Administration’s legislative priorities.…
On Jan. 9, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) proposed important steps to streamline the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, which can be a circuitous, time-intensive, and costly environmental review step for many infrastructure projects.
Thu, 01/09/2020 – 11:30 On Dec. 20, President Trump signed two spending packages totaling $1.4 trillion, preventing another year-end government shutdown and providing annual funding to all agencies of the federal government through September 30, 2020. Overall, federal construction accounts saw about a nine percent increase—or $12.4 billion—in funding in comparison to FY2019 funding levels. A full AGC analysis of federal and federal-aid construction accounts for FY2020 can be found here. For more information, contact Cory Gattie at cory.gattie@agc.org or (202) 547-4685.
On Jan. 9, AGC urged members of the U.S. House of Representatives to oppose H.R.535, the PFAS Action Act of 2019. The bill, which is expected for a floor vote on Jan. 10, threatens to derail and overwhelm ongoing efforts at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study PFAS and develop science-based, protective regulations for specific types of PFAS when warranted. AGC further expressed its concern that the bill may result in mandates that put construction contractors unnecessarily at risk of Superfund liability on normal, “every day” projects where trace amounts of PFAS may be found in the dirt or groundwater. This bill…
On Jan. 9, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) proposed important steps to streamline the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, which can be a circuitous, time-intensive, and costly environmental review step for many infrastructure projects. AGC is pleased the proposal appears to set clear timelines for completing reviews as well as clear up ambiguous wording and definitions that have led to litigation and delayed projects over the years – steps recommended by AGC in the prior comment period. “The administration is right to seek to make the review process more efficient and cost effective without sacrificing environmental protections, thereby allowing…
On Dec. 20, President Trump signed two spending packages totaling $1.4 trillion, preventing another year-end government shutdown and providing annual funding to all agencies of the federal government through September 30, 2020. Overall, federal construction accounts saw about a nine percent increase—or $12.4 billion—in funding in comparison to FY2019 funding levels. A full AGC analysis of federal and federal-aid construction accounts for FY2020 can be found here.
On January 8, AGC of America submitted comments on the National Labor Relations Board’s latest proposed rule to modify union representation-case procedures. Not to be confused with the Board’s “quickie election” rule, which addresses different representation-case procedures, the present rulemaking proposes three changes: (1) replacing the Board’s current “blocking charge” policy with a vote-and-impound procedure that would allow representation elections to move forward while an unfair labor practice charge is pending; (2) modifying the current “voluntary recognition bar” policy by re-establishing a notice requirement and a 45-day open period within which to file an election petition following an employer’s voluntary recognition of a union under…
What’s old is new again at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as numerous district offices have recently expanded their use of fact-finding conferences.
On January 8, AGC of America submitted comments on the National Labor Relations Board’s latest proposed rule to modify union representation-case procedures.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently published the updated Federal Contract Compliance Manual (FCCM).