Author: Crystal Yates

On November 21st, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released proposals related to endangered and threatened species and their habitat. The proposals would generally reinstate AGC-supported changes made during the first Trump administration that were reversed by the Biden administration. In the course of their work, contractors routinely take steps to avoid or minimize impacts to protected species—those activities should be largely unchanged by these proposals. The proposals are focused on streamlining how the Service implements the Endangered Species Act: providing some clarity on key definitions (e.g., foreseeable future) as well as boundaries to critical habitat and the scope of…

AGC of America’s next quarterly virtual meeting of the Union Contractors Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. EST. Click here to register. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss key union contractor issues and challenges at the national and local levels. Open to all AGC members and chapter staff, this virtual town hall provides an opportunity for industry professionals from various sectors to share best practices and discuss emerging labor trends. An agenda and speaker information will be shared soon. To encourage open conversation, the session is not recorded for distribution. For more information, please contact…

On November 20, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, which would reform the permitting and judicial review process of projects under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The bill streamlines NEPA by reestablishing it as a procedural statute, codifying the Supreme Court’s Seven Counties decision into law. If enacted, the bill would affirm AGC’s permitting reform priority of establishing a 150-day statute of limitations for filing a legal challenge of a NEPA permitting decision. Additionally, the bill would codify another AGC priority into law by restricting third-parties from…

On November 19, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released new and updated educational materials reaffirming EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas’ previously expressed commitment to advancing enforcement and awareness of “national origin discrimination and Anti-American bias.” The agency issued a new one-page technical assistance document, “Discrimination Against American Workers Is Against The Law,” and updated its national origin discrimination landing page. The technical assistance document states that unlawful national origin discrimination “involves treating workers (applicants or employees) unfavorably or favorably because they are from a particular country or part of the world” and “can include preferring foreign workers, including workers…

At a House Committee on Education and Workforce hearing on November 11, Jaime Andress, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Caddell Construction and Chair of AGC’s HR Committee, testified on behalf of AGC of America on Caddell’s experiences using E-Verify as a federal contractor in the construction industry. Mrs. Andress underscored that the biggest problem they and many other contractors have with E-Verify is that they don’t have enough people to run through the system. There are simply not enough qualified workers available for construction firms like theirs to hire and verify. She urged Congress to boost funding…

On November 17, the Trump administration announced a new proposal to define federal waters (Waters of the United States or WOTUS)—key to determining when a federal Clean Water Act permit is required for projects. AGC of America advocates for a clear, predictable, and durable rule that provides regulatory certainty without overreach. At first glance, the joint U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposal would– This summary is not exhaustive. The proposal is robust and technical in many sections. The agencies present alternatives and implementation considerations for the proposed changes for public comment. The agencies also…

The IRS announced that for tax year 2025, employers will not face penalties for failing to separately report qualified overtime compensation under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This transition relief applies only for 2025, as Forms W-2 and 1099 will not be updated to reflect the new overtime reporting requirements until later years. Employers may still choose to provide separate overtime details to help employees claim new deductions, but it is not mandatory for 2025. More info can be found here. Save the date for an AGC of America Virtual Meeting on Thursday, December 4, at 2:00 –…

AGC of America is closely tracking three environmental regulatory proposals at the White House Office of Management (OMB) for review: (1) the next revision of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS), (2) listing species and designating critical habitat, and (3) interagency cooperation under the Endangered Species Act. When the government reopens, we expect these proposals to be released for public comment within a matter of weeks. AGC staff are working with members to ensure we provide construction-specific feedback to the agencies. OMB conducts interagency reviews on pending actions at various stages, such as proposed or final regulations. The review…

Federal immigration officials have finally clarified key details about the controversial $100,000 H-1B visa fee announced last month – and the update provides some relief for employers. The new guidance from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) significantly narrows which petitions are subject to the fee, offering relief for most employers sponsoring current or recent international workers. The guidance also provides details about who how to pay the fee, who is exempt, and how to request an exception. Here’s what you need to know about the new developments. Background: The $100,000 H-1B Fee Explained As detailed in a prior article, President…

A new Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) Settlements Report covering collective bargaining agreements settled during the first three quarters of 2025 shows an average total package increase of 4.7%, matching last year’s increase. On a dollar basis, the increase averaged $3.12, up from $2.95 in 2024. According to CLRC, wage growth has leveled off but remains high, as post-inflation adjustments and lingering inflation effects continue to influence contract renewals. The report projects continued increases through 2027, though at a slower pace. Regional variation persists, with western regions leading in both percentage and dollar increases, while craft-level variation is narrowing, with…