Author: agcnews

On Aug. 4, AGC of America’s Federal & Heavy Construction Division participated at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Executive Governance Meeting, which gathers Army Corps commanders from across the agency. AGC and the Army Corps discussed solutions to the challenges facing our nation’s infrastructure, and how the Army Corps can better partner with the construction industry. AGC emphasized the strain contractors are facing with construction materials at record high prices and the continued availability challenges. AGC urged Commanders to partner with AGC Chapters and member contractors back in their district offices, and also provided government guidance encouraging such meetings. For more information, contact jordan.howard@agc.org or…

On Aug. 10, the Senate passed, 69-30, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a historic, $1.2 trillion infrastructure package investing in all components of the nation’s physical infrastructure. AGC endorsed this legislation because it reauthorizes the nation’s federal-aid highway and transit programs for five years at record funding levels, includes significant environmental permitting streamlining provisions, and provides a host of other investments for a wide array construction projects without raising taxes on construction firms and without including any new, significant workforce mandates, like the PRO Act or government-mandated project labor agreements. A full AGC analysis of the bill can be found here. Additionally, a breakdown of what’s in the…

Construction Officials Call for End to Damaging Tariffs and Quotas on Steel, Aluminum, Lumber and Other Essential Construction Items Incurring Unprecedented Price Increases and Long Lead Times Extreme price increases continued in July for a wide range of goods and services used in construction, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials urged President Biden to immediately end tariffs and quotas on steel, aluminum, lumber and other essential construction items to help stave off inflationary pressure in the construction industry. “July was the sixth-straight month of double-digit price increases for construction inputs,”…

Construction Official Warns that Holding the Much-Needed Infrastructure Measure Hostage to Unrelated Partisan Priorities will Hurt the Economy and Deny Workers Good Career Opportunities The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in reaction to the passage in the Senate today of a bipartisan infrastructure measure: “The new infrastructure measure passed by the Senate today provides much-needed new federal investments in a wide range of infrastructure projects. These investments will help generate new demand for construction services, equipment, and materials. More important, the new investments will create high-paying construction career…

Association Officials Urged Congress to Pass the New, Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to Boost Demand for Nonresidential Construction and Create Needed Commercial Construction Career Opportunities The construction industry added 11,000 jobs between June and July but nonresidential construction employment remains far below pre-pandemic levels, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials said nonresidential construction has been affected by declining demand for projects, particularly for public infrastructure work, and urged Congress to quickly pass the new bipartisan infrastructure measure. “Contractors are plagued by soaring materials costs, long or uncertain delivery times,…

On August 5, President Biden signed an Executive Order setting a new target to make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell electric vehicles. The Executive Order also initiates development of long-term fuel efficiency and emissions standards. In conjunction with this Order, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Transportation will soon announce how they plan to counter regulatory action on efficiency and emissions standards developed by the previous administration. These announcements, along with increased consumer interest in electric vehicles, makes clear that Congress must seriously address the long-term…

On July 27, the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Defense announced the implementation of mask mandates for all federal workers, contractors, and visitors to federal facilities in areas with substantial or high community transmission of COVID-19 infections. Federal employees and “onsite contractors” will be required to “attest” to vaccination or be required to wear a mask. However, federal contractors nor agencies have received any implementation guidance which has resulted in confusion. Fundamental questions remain unanswered, including what the scope of the mandate is, who will bear the cost of testing, and if contractors working at multiple offices or for multiple…

This week the Senate is debating the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or commonly referred to as the bipartisan infrastructure bill. AGC has weighed in on a few of the amendments that have been offered and is monitoring to see if they will get a vote: AGC Supported – Amendment offered by Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) would provide eligibility for state departments of transportation to achieve carbon emission reductions through pavement procurement. Reduction of carbon emissions from modern pavement technologies has also been confirmed through research from the Federal Highway Administration. AGC Opposed – Amendment offered by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) would restrict a state’s ability…

Associated General Contractors of America Details Measures Needed to Lead to a More Environmentally Friendly Built Environment, Also Outlines Steps Firms Can Take to Operate More Efficiently Construction officials outlined a series of steps public officials and the construction industry should take to address the impacts of the built environment on climate change. The new initiative from the Associated General Contractors of America is designed to lessen the carbon footprint of the built environment while also making the process of building projects even more efficient. “The construction industry is the delivery vehicle for building a greener, more climate friendly future,”…

Construction Officials Call for Swift Passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, Noting the Measure Will Help Offset Continued Declines in Nonresidential Construction Activity and Create Sector Jobs Demand for different types of construction continued to diverge in June as residential construction increased for the month and the year while nonresidential construction spending fell again, according to a new analysis of federal construction spending data the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Officials noted the nonresidential declines include a steep drop in spending on highway and street projects and urged Congress to quickly pass a new, bipartisan infrastructure measure. “The…