Author: agcnews
AGC was thrilled to attend the Warrior Canine Connection Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! It was an inspiring day celebrating the opening of the newly renovated barn, a space where service dogs will train to support our veterans. Huge thanks to everyone who donated and made this project possible.
The Biden-Harris Administration has been implementing the Waters of the United States conforming rule for one year. Implementation has been a challenge for regulators and industry alike. Meanwhile, AGC’s legal challenge to the 2023 rule continues, and the rule remains on hold in 27 states. The most recent legal filing applies recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings on Chevron deference to the case. Implementation of the new rule has been confusing. Several members reporting that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers field staff are hesitant to provide approved jurisdictional determinations. Furthermore, some approvals have been elevated to Corps and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to…
AGC’s Decarbonization and Carbon Reporting Playbook and AGC Construction Carbon Emissions Calculator provides contractors with tools to communicate effectively with project teams and successfully navigate the complexities of carbon reporting for a project. It describes a process for identifying accountability, what to track and report, and how to do so. Written by contractors for contractors, AGC released the playbook in Spring 2024—more than 500 downloads! AGC made minor updates to the playbook and provided additional reporting spreadsheets in September 2024. Download Today! https://www.agc.org/climate-change-playbook
On Wednesday, September 25th, AGC of America welcomed AGC chapter government relations staff from across the country to AGC’s annual Government Relations Summit. The summit provides an opportunity for AGC chapters to discuss the top government relations issues they are facing back home. Over twenty chapters were represented at the summit, which was held at AGC of America’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Attendees discussed issues that were debated in their state legislatures and city councils including construction contracting laws, labor requirements, climate reporting requirements, workforce development and more. Attendees also highlighted the need for investment in infrastructure and best practices…
At AGC’s National and Chapter Leadership Conference, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) took time out of his busy schedule, even as he was negotiating a critical government funding bill, to address association leaders. Despite the high-stakes environment on Capitol Hill, Johnson made it a priority to be with the AGC attendees, recognizing the vital role the construction industry plays in job creation and economic growth. His presence and message were a clear sign of his commitment to advancing policies that support construction professionals and the broader economy. The Speaker focused on the need for permitting reform and eliminating…
Note: On Oct. 31, 2024, U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove clarified that the court’s previous ruling applies to “all states in which the Plaintiffs operate or bid on DOT contracts impacted by DBE goals.” On September 23, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky granted the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction partially halting certain aspects of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. Specifically, DOT is temporarily blocked from mandating the use of race- and gender-based “rebuttable presumptions” for contracts impacted by DBE goals upon which the plaintiffs bid. Importantly, the court’s order…
This week, the House of Representatives and Senate easily passed a short-term spending bill averting a potential government shutdown just weeks before the November elections. The bipartisan agreement on a short-term fix will fund the government and create a new deadline of December 20, 2024. The agreement ultimately does not include a provision demanded by former President Trump, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in a federal election. You might recall, AGC previously reported on the government funding debate and potential for a shutdown. This all comes after attempts to fund the government through the regular appropriations process hit multiple…
Three new bid protests were recently filed by AGC members that incorporate AGC’s legal theory challenging the government’s new PLA mandate. While bid protests challenge specific project awards at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the legal theory developed for AGC by outside counsel at Fox Rothschild aims to strike down the government’s PLA mandate across the board. The AGC-legal theory challenges the lawfulness of the government’s new PLA mandate as an unlawful socio-economic set aside that Congress never authorized. Consequently, this violates the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA). Bid protests before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims typically move faster…
Limited Space Available for Post-Conference Events! The 2024 AGC Construction HR & Workforce Conference, being held on October 20-22nd in Denver, CO, will focus on the intersection of HR and workforce development in our industry. The program will feature a multi-track educational program that includes sessions focused on HR practices, while others will highlight workforce development strategies. Some sessions will cover both! If you’ve attended an HRTED Conference or Workforce Summit in the past, this event was designed with you in mind. At this year’s conference you can get exclusive access to the following post-conference programs, but space is limited and…
On September 19, the Department of Labor (DOL) awarded approximately $12.7 million in grants to 102 non-profit organizations across the nation. Administered by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), funds from the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program will support the delivery of training and education that helps workers and employers recognize, avoid, and prevent workplace hazards, as well as understand workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities under federal law. AGC of America was awarded $160,000 to provide fall prevention/protection training and education to approximately 500 workers and employers in the construction industry. AGC has been a proud recipient of this grant for almost 20 years.…