Author: agcnews
On November 8th, members of the AGC of South Dakota Young Constructors (East & West River Chapters) presented Senator Mike Rounds (R) with a PAC check on behalf of the AGC of America. The presentation took place during Senator Rounds’ visit to Northstream Outfitters in Draper, South Dakota, on the second day of the annual AGC Young Constructors Pheasant Hunt. During his visit, Senator Rounds engaged with the group, taking the opportunity to answer questions, share insights on key legislative priorities, and discuss the vital role of advocacy in supporting the construction industry. He praised those in attendance for their…
Construction employment increased in 41 states in October from a year earlier, while 33 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between September and October, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials noted that construction firms are hiring faster than other segments, but are searching for even more workers. “Year-over-year job growth has become more widespread in construction despite slowing down in other sectors,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Still more states would have posted gains in construction employment if there were enough…
URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Protect Construction from OSHA’s One-Size-Fits-All Heat Rule THE LATEST: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) is trying to arbitrarily adopt a one-size-fits-all national heat standard that’s triggered when the heat index exceeds 80°F as part of its new Heat Safety Rule. More information here
Following the listing of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances, the regulated community has been concerned about the lack of “clear and consistent guidelines” for managing these chemicals. As part of a coalition, AGC offered feedback to EPA on disposal guidance and is seeking AGC members to participate in a task force on a new best practices toolkit for managing risk. Please reach out to Melinda Tomaino at melinda.tomaino@agc.org by December 13 if you would like to participate in the task force. For more information, please contact Leah Pilconis at leah.pilconis@agc.org or Melinda Tomaino at melinda.tomaino@agc.org.
On November 11, President-elect Trump tapped Lee Zeldin for the role of administrator to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The former representative from New York served in the U.S. Congress from 2015-2023. In 2022, he ran for governor of that state, which he did not win but overperformed in a traditionally blue state. Zeldin’s career did not focus on the environment, yet he promoted common sense approaches on the issues he did address from the restoration of Long Island Sound, fisheries, and climate to EPA funding and reform. In a social media post following the announcement, Zeldin mentioned the…
OSHA’s proposed heat safety rule could have significant implications for the construction industry, but a one-size-fits-all approach may create unnecessary burdens without improving worker safety. The unique nature of construction work, with its varying job sites, schedules, and environments, requires flexible, site-specific solutions rather than blanket regulations. In this video, we break down what the new rule entails and why it’s critical for construction professionals to voice their concerns. Learn how you can take action to advocate for practical, effective heat safety measures that truly protect workers while allowing projects to move forward efficiently.
Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, marking one of the most remarkable comebacks in American political history. Despite his loss in 2020, January 6, felony convictions, and surviving two assassination attempts, Trump’s victory sent a message that resonated worldwide. Currently, Mr. Trump has secured 295 Electoral Votes to Vice President Harris’s 226, with his lead projected to increase to 312 once Arizona and Nevada complete their counts. If he claims both states, Mr. Trump will exceed his 2016 Electoral College total of 304 votes against Hillary Clinton. He is also on track to win the popular…
The 2024 U.S. election results have sparked renewed discussion about the future of federal infrastructure investment, particularly concerning the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The landmark legislation, which passed with substantial bipartisan support in 2021, has been instrumental in addressing America’s aging infrastructure. While most of the Act’s funding is secure and difficult to “claw back”, certain pieces of the legislation—those related to rail and transit—remain subject to future appropriations. As a result, these areas could face potential funding reductions in the coming legislative sessions. Despite this uncertainty for rail and transit, infrastructure investment has generally maintained strong bipartisan…
AGC previously reported about certain tax provisions, included in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), that are important to the construction industry which are set to expire. The past two weeks we have discussed the Section 199A “qualified business income deduction” and the ability of businesses to fully deduct the cost of equipment in the year that it is purchased. Today’s section will focus on construction tax accounting methods, and the “small contractor exemption” from percentage of completion method of accounting. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 introduced significant revisions to the long-term contract accounting rules, specifically under Section…
AGC of America wants to understand exactly how construction demand, labor shortages and high interest rates are impacting the construction industry. That is why we are asking contractors to complete the following construction outlook survey that we and our partners at Sage have prepared. The results from the survey will inform expected market conditions for the coming year in addition to challenges contractors faced in 2024. We are collecting responses between November 7th and December 13th. Results will be posted in early January.