AGC CEO Steve Sandherr met with officials from the Obama Administration's Office of Management and Budget, Department of Labor, Office of Federal Procurement Policy and the Vice President's staff last week to discuss AGC's position on the Government Mandated Labor Agreements (GMLAs). 

Earlier in the year, the President issued an executive order encouraging agency heads to consider mandating labor agreements on construction projects costing more than $25 million.  During the lengthy meeting, Steve explained the impact of mandated labor agreements on both union and open shop employers.  For example, he noted that while AGC is neutral on project labor agreements when they are voluntarily adopted by a project's owner, he noted that even union shop contractors have their existing labor arrangements undermined when the government imposes GMLAs. 

The meeting gave AGC an opportunity to explain to senior Administration officials the practical, and negative, effect of mandated labor agreements.  For example, the Administration now understands the problems of having contracting officers with little construction expertise negotiate GMLA's, and they are now checking to see if previous mandated labor agreements have actually resulted in increased efficiencies and economies.  AGC will continue to press this issue with all federal agencies that perform construction work.  A copy of the fact sheet that was presented by AGC is available here.

On May 28, AGC held its second session in its new Federal Contracting: Stimulus at Work webinar series, entitled, The Contract Award Process. The federal market has changed dramatically over the last six months and this program provided participants with the ins and outs of federal contracts and what makes them unique. The webinar also included information on the new Federal subcontract from ConsensusDOCS and the government process in awarding contracts.

Due to the changing landscape in federal contracting, it is more important than ever that contractors are aware of rule and regulation updates and the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on the federal contracting process.  This webinar series will continue to provide an overview of the existing process and walk attendees through the evolution of federal contracting.

Click here to learn more about the webinars below.

• June 4 - How to Handle Claims and Disputes
• June 11- The Recovery Act

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a di minimus waiver from Buy America requirements contained in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  This is the second Buy America issued by EPA; the first national waiver applied to projects under contract before President Obama signed the ARRA.  This nationwide waiver can be applied to materials or components which constitute five percent or less of the total cost of materials incorporated into  a water infrastructure project funded by EPA's Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan ( SRF) programs funded by the ARRA. 

AGC's efforts were critical in educating the EPA about the complexity and components of typical water infrastructure projects, such as treatment plants or pipe replacement and rehabilitation projects. 

This waiver was deemed to be in the public interest  by the EPA in order to ensure ARRA-funded projects proceed within the timelines established in the legislation to provide jobs and infrastructure investments. AGC applauds EPA's action to avoid project delays and unnecessary liability for AGC members.

To view a copy of the 6-page EPA document click here.

AGC Wednesday hosted a meeting with executives and representatives of several building design and construction industry stakeholders at the National Building Museum to discuss recent regulatory and legislative efforts to address greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. 

The group received a briefing from a representative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to update them on the regulatory efforts underway at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control greenhouse gas emissions from mobile and stationary sources under the Clean Air Act.  The U.S. Chamber and AGC share a concern that the Clean Air Act would lead to over-regulation of building construction and major renovation and ultimately halt construction. 

The group also received a briefing on the legislative outlook in Congress, including comments from a staff member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.  The House Energy and Commerce Committee last week approved a bill that aims to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050.  The Senate has yet to propose climate change legislation.  AGC will now work to identify areas of consensus among the building design and construction community to influence the debate on Capitol Hill as climate change legislation moves forward.   

The health care debate remains a priority of congressional leaders and the administration.  Today, President Obama predicted that if Congress is unable to pass comprehensive reform this year, it may never happen.  Despite the packed legislative calendar and tight window to consider legislation, Congress remains committed to debating the issue before the annual August recess. 

The Senate Finance Committee has released an outline of policy options to consider in reform legislation and is expected to release actual legislative language next week.  The major issue remains how to finance the plan.  When the legislative language is released, AGC will communicate the issues of importance to AGC members.

On May 19, 2009, U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies to defend EPA's FY 2010 budget blueprint.   Unlike many other federal and federally-assisted construction accounts, the EPA's FY 2010 budget includes significant increases for clean and drinking water infrastructure.

EPA has budgeted $3.9 billion to maintain and improve outdated water infrastructure including $2.4 billion for clean water and $1.5 billion for drinking water. The budget also includes $636,317 for categorical grants to states and tribes for water programs. 

Additional budget highlights include a $475 million multi-agency Great Lakes Initiative to protect and clean up the largest fresh water lakes in the world through restoration efforts, invasive species control, non-point source pollution mitigation and critical habitats protection. The budget also includes funding for crucial efforts to protect, maintain and restore the Chesapeake Bay and Anacostia River, Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay, Lake Champlain and other large water bodies.

To view the EPA FY 2010 budget click here.

Capitol Hill's newspaper, The Hill, listed AGC as the only commercial construction industry association on its Top Lobbyists of 2009 list. 

AGC was cited for its work in "crafting" the economic stimulus package.  Read the entire list here.

This group of highway contractors, suppliers and other interested parties gathered to hear from construction leaders and to lobby on construction funding issues. Every state was represented and the participants visited hundreds of congressional offices to lobby on the transportation reauthorization, the status of the highway trust fund, passage of the FAA authorization and reauthorization of the waste water and drinking water state revolving funds. Many AGC members also lobbied against the Employee Free Choice Act (or "card check").

The group heard from Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.)and Ranking Republican John Mica (R-Fla.). Chairman of House Resources Committee Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) also addressed the group. All three leading decision makers addressed the reauthorization process and talked about a bill that could top $400 billion, focus on economic growth, congestion reduction and increased safety. The bill will likely also include comprehensive transportation planning and changes designed to speed up project delivery.  A draft of the House bill will likely be unveiled in June with Committee action to follow.  The Senate is on a slower schedule than the House.

The U.S. House of Representatives today is expected to pass H.R. 915, a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding and safety oversight programs for four years with a total authorized spending level of $70billion.  The bill includes a total of $16.2 billion for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the primary source of federal funding for airport capital projects.  The bill also increases the Passenger Facility Charge(PFC) on airline flights from $4.50 to $7.00, which is estimated to generate $1billion per year in additional revenue.  These fees may be levied by airports to fund airport infrastructure investment. 

The most recent multi-year authorization of the FAA expired on September 30,2007.  The programs have been operating under a series of short-term extensions since that time.  The Senate has not yet acted on reauthorization legislation this year.

AGC of America staff and contractor members met with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood (center) at the DOT headquarters in Washington, D.C.

During his remarks, Secretary LaHood cited stimulus success stories, including Austin Bridge & Roads' new I-49 project in Shreveport, La., and some he learned from AGC members during a meeting at the DOT headquarters May 20, which was covered by Reuters reporter Lisa Lambert.

The Chicago Tribune reported on today's event.