Author: agcnews

Get started with Lean Why should you adopt Lean Construction? Learn more from these quick start guides authored by the Lean Construction Committee. The Committee encourages all to share it with their colleagues and print a few copies for site offices to spark conversations. Why Should YOU Adopt LEAN? – How Do I Start? Why Should YOU Adopt LEAN? Develop expertise in Lean Below you will find a list of books curated by the Lean Construction Committee aimed at furthering your journey in Lean Construction. The Lean Builder: A Builder’s Guide to Applying Lean Tools in the FieldBy Jesus D…

The James L. Allhands Essay was established by the late James L. Allhands, one of the founding members of AGC and a prolific writer of construction-related works. The award recognizes a student essay on a specific topic that is deemed to be beneficial to the advancement of technological, educational, or vocational expertise in the construction industry. The competition is open to any senior–level student in a four or five–year ABET or ACCE–accredited university construction management or construction–related engineering program. This year’s topic: “How will AI change the construction industry in the next 5 years. What will the role of artificial…

Look through the updated agenda topics for the industry’s premier annual conference to explore today’s most pressing issues and future trends. AGC’s Highway, Transportation and Utility Infrastructure Construction Conference will bring together contractors, owners and key industry constituents involved in every aspect of highway, bridge, transit, airport runway, rail, and utility infrastructure construction for a three day-long program focusing on industry trends, best practices, and preparation for upcoming technological advances that will transform the way you work. The conference will take place at the tropical Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, FL. You’ll have the opportunity to relax with other attendees by joining a…

The construction sector added 25,000 jobs in July as wage gains continued to outpace increases in the broader economy, according to an analysis of new government data the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials said the biggest challenge for the industry remains finding enough workers to keep pace with demand and urged public officials to boost support for construction education and training programs. “The construction industry has maintained a steady pace of employment gains even as job growth has cooled in other sectors,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Both residential and nonresidential construction firms are adding workers,…

Every year, during September — National Suicide Prevention Month — the construction industry dedicates a week to raising awareness about the unique challenges workers face in construction that may lead to suicide and what we can do to help prevent it. Join the movement by registering your company at ConstructionSuicidePrevention.com and use the resources provided to plan activities with your workers during Suicide Prevention Week, September 9 – 13. Learn More and Register

Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America’s workers safe. Successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, improving sustainability and the bottom line. Participating in Safe + Sound Week can help get your program started, energize an existing one, or provide a chance to recognize your safety successes. Participations is as easy as 1-2-3! LEARN MORE

Measure fell victim to partisan politics in an election year This week Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) brought the AGC-supported bipartisan tax legislation, H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act before the full chamber for a vote. The legislation, which is fully “paid for” with offsetting cost reduction elsewhere, overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives on January 31, 2024, by a vote of 357-70. However, the bill ultimately failed to receive enough votes in the U.S. Senate. What is in the bill? If passed, the bill would have: So what happened? The legislation sat idle in the…

Construction spending slid 0.3 percent from May to June as declines in single-family homebuilding and major public project types outweighed selective gains in private nonresidential categories, according to an analysis of a new government report that the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials urged the Biden administration to explore ways to ease regulatory barriers that are preventing work from starting on vital infrastructure projects. “Although overall outlays fell for the second month in a row, there were enough bright spots to suggest construction will continue growing, on balance,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “In particular,…

Background: On July 22, 2024, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024. The legislation seeks to limit lawsuits related to energy permitting decisions and shorten the energy permitting process. The bill comes at a critical time following the White House Council on Environmental Quality new requirements to the already complicated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting process. The fate of the bill remains uncertain with few legislative days left in this congress. What does the bill do? The bill would limit lawsuits once permits have been issued on energy construction projects. In addition, it would…

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case later this year on whether Clean Water Act (CWA) NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permits can include generic prohibitions that threaten the certainty that construction companies need to comply with environmental requirements. AGC recently submitted a friend of the court brief advocating for clarity to protect contractors from enforcement and costly fines due to vague NPDES permit language. AGC seeks to ensure that the Supreme Court’s decision preserves the successful permitting approaches used in construction general stormwater permits (CGP) issued by the U.S. EPA and states. In its brief, AGC and its partners explain why…