The Senate recently passed legislation to reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs and funding for two years. Included in the legislation is $8.1 billion for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the primary source of federal funding for airport capital projects, $4 billion in FY 2010 and $4.1 billion in 2011.

The program is currently funded at $3.5 billion. The Senate bill would also allow six airports (to be determined in the future) to raise the passenger facility charge (PFC) on airline flights from $4.50 to $7.00. The House passed a four-year authorization in July 2009, and included a total of $16.2 billion for AIP grant funding and allows all airports to increase the PFC from $4.50 to $7.00, which is estimated to generate $1billion per year in additional revenue for airport infrastructure investment.

AGC is working in support of allowing the PFC ceiling to increase for all airports to $7.00. The House is likely to amend the Senate bill, which will allow the Senate to either ask for a conference to settle the differences or else allow informal negotiations to settle the differences, leading to another exchange of amendments between the House and Senate.

To prevent any disruption in the programs, the House passed a bill to extend FAA authorization until July 31, 2010, which changes the way that $745 million in highway funding under the Projects of National and Regional Significance and Corridor programs will be apportioned to states in FY 2010. The Senate has yet to act on the extension.

Would you like to see what topics were presented at past AGC Building Contractors Conferences?  Would you like to view the PowerPoint presentations?  Go to www.agc.org/building and look under "Resources" for presentations since January 2008.

A new contractor reporting database is set to become effective on April 22, 2010, according to GovernmentExecutive.com.  The Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), required under the Defense Authorization Act, is designed to enhance the government's ability to review the performance quality and conduct of contractors in order to "protect the government from awarding contracts to contractors that are not responsible sources." 

The database, which will be managed by the U.S. General Services Administration, will eventually include information for state contracts.  This information will not be added until a comprehensive format for collecting state by state information is established.  Further, the possibility of adding local government information will be explored.

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Save the Date: May 6, 2010 |1:00pm-2:30pm ET

Free for AGC Members and Chapters, this AGC webinar will detail the recently enacted health care bill and the sweeping changes to the delivery of health care in the United States. Focusing on the impact on employers in the construction industry as well as their responsibilities and requirements to offer health care benefits to their employees, AGC has partnered with a prestigious law firm experienced in this matter to analyze the impact of the bill on construction employers and suggest preparations that employers should begin implementing to comply with the new law.

Plus, AGC's chief economist, Ken Simonson, will close out the event with a preview of the impact the legislation will have on the demand for future health care construction.

The webinar will cover the following:
·        new employer responsibility requirements
·        new insurance reforms
·        impact of tax changes
·        wellness programs
·        impact on collectively bargained employees
·        impact on future health care construction

Registration:
AGC Members:  FREE
Non-Member:  $79

To register CLICK HERE.  For additional guidance, please review AGC's analysis here and here.  Please contact Jim Young at youngj@agc,org or 202-547-0133 should you have questions.