Author: clara.kinney@agc.org
The US Department of Education released a final rule implementing a new policy to extend Pell Grant eligibility to workforce training programs in as short as eight weeks A Pell Grant is a need-based federal grant designed to help undergraduate students from low- or middle-income families afford college or vocational education. After more than a decade of advocacy, a provision was finally included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) requiring the Department of Education to make the change. AGC had previously joined the Jobs and Careers Coalition (JCC) in submitting comments to the Department of Education supporting the expansion of Pell Grants…
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) have released a bipartisan, five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill known as the BUILD America 250 Act. This marks one of the most significant milestones yet in the effort to replace the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) before it expires on September 30, 2026. AGC submitted a letter supporting the legislation and highlighting several provisions important to the construction industry. Among the bill’s key provisions, AGC highlighted the increased investment in roads, bridges, and transit systems, a continued emphasis on formula funding, and project delivery…
One of the key challenges surrounding the Buy America program is a lack of transparency around waiver requests. Applicants don’t know who is adjudicating the request, under what standard, or how long it will take to see some progress. AGC has spent years trying to change that status quo for contractors, including petitioning for a rulemaking back in 2024. Our latest effort to seek clarity from the implementing agencies comes in the form of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Under FOIA, agencies are required to disclose federal records, ensuring transparency and accountability…
After reauthorizing the nationwide permits (NWP) under the Clean Water Act back in January with limited changes, the Army Corps of Engineers issued a notice seeking information on potential changes they might make to the NWP going forward. Nationwide permits are designed to streamline federal approvals for activities that have only minimal individual and cumulative impacts on waters of the United States. These permits help avoid the need for lengthy individual reviews for routine construction activities such as utility installation, transportation work, and maintenance projects. In our comments, the coalition requested that the Corps: The comment noted that contractors often…
Registration is officially open for the AGC of America and Construction Financial Management Association’s 2026 Construction Financial Management Conference (CFMC), in Las Vegas from October 28th through October 30th. CFMC is the premier annual event dedicated to advancing financial leadership within the construction industry. Co-hosted by AGC and the Construction Financial Management Association, CFMC brings together construction financial professionals for three days of high-impact education, peer networking, and strategic insight. The conference offers in-depth learning across accounting, finance, risk management, technology, and leadership, tailored specifically to the evolving needs of construction firms in today’s competitive market. Why You Should Attend CFMC: • Timely,…
The debate over a federal gas tax holiday intensified this week after President Trump publicly endorsed suspending federal fuel taxes in response to rising energy prices tied to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Fill out our Action Alert. To push back on that effort, AGC is launched an Action Alert encouraging members to contact their lawmakers and voice concerns about proposals that could undermine Highway Trust Fund solvency and long-term infrastructure investment. Please take 30 seconds to let your voice be heard on the importance of the gas tax for the construction industry. Engage on Social Media. Members…
The Latest: Washington is once again pushing the idea of a federal gas tax holiday as fuel prices rise. Sounds good in a headline, right? The problem is it won’t work. The federal gas tax is collected before fuel even reaches your local gas station, meaning there is no guarantee drivers actually see the savings. In many cases, oil companies keep the difference. Even political leaders who rarely agree on anything have questioned whether these proposals work. Nancy Pelosi once called gas tax holidays “showbiz,” while Ron DeSantis recently admitted consumers did not really feel relief from Florida’s gas tax suspension. And…
AGC’s judicial advocacy is a critical component of its broader advocacy efforts. Litigation enables AGC to challenge overreaching regulations that are unreasonable, unachievable, or downright unfair. AGC can stop harmful precedents – in things like construction, insurance, and employment law – before they hit your bottom line. The Litigation Snapshot highlights cases in our docket, along with a status update and why the outcome matters for construction. Should contractors face cleanup liability for moving PFAS contaminated soil 30 years ago, even when they didn’t even know about it? AGC doesn’t think so and that is why we are suing the…
On May 6, AGC of America joined Gilbane Building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 2026 Construction Safety Week and the 13th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. Construction Safety Week is the construction industry’s annual initiative that highlights an ongoing commitment to building a culture of safety. The National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction is a key moment during Construction Safety Week, encouraging companies across the U.S. and Canada to pause work on May 6, or when feasible during the week, to reinforce fall prevention and fall protection practices. The event brought…
On April 30, 2026, President Trump issued an executive order titled “Promoting Efficiency, Accountability, and Performance in Federal Contracting,” signaling a shift in how federal agencies are expected to procure goods and services. The order establishes fixed‑price, performance‑based contracts as the default method for federal procurement. The rationale for this directive was unpredictable pricing, excessive overhead, and weak performance incentives. The order requires agencies to justify any use of non-fixed-price contracts, including cost-reimbursement contracts, time-and-materials contracts, or labor-hour agreements, going forward. It also mandates senior‑level approval for non-fixed-price contract awards that exceed certain monetary thresholds. In addition, agencies must submit…