Organizations supporting changes to the Senate health care legislation excluding small construction contractors from the small business exemption represent less than four percent of construction employers, according to AGC's analysis of claims made by Senate staffers.

For details on these claims, read AGC's press release here. The news was covered by the Wilmington Delaware News Journal, and The Daily Reporter and Engineering News-Record.

For more information, contact Brian Turmail at (703) 837-5310 or turmailb@agc.org.

Without debate or advance notice, language was added to the Senate health care legislation that singles out small construction firms for harsher treatment than any other industry.

Whereas most employers with fewer than 50 workers that do not offer health coverage are exempt from fines that apply to larger employers, under the newly added provision construction firms employing as few as five workers would be subject to health care coverage fines.   Stephen Sandherr, AGC's chief executive officer, issued the following statement regarding the late-night inclusion:

"Unconcerned that construction has endured more pain than any other sector, supporters of the Senate health care bill appear poised to exclude the industry from thoughtful measures designed to protect small businesses.  With construction unemployment already at 19.4 percent, nearly twice the national average and higher than any other category, the Senate's decision couldn't come at a worse time for contractors.  It is impossible to understand the wisdom of singling out small, mostly family-owned construction firms even though the vast majority of them already provide comprehensive health insurance.  If Washington was looking for a way to push more construction workers into unemployment lines, the late-night amendment to the health care 'reform' measure does just that."

The news has been covered by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, including a quote by AGC of Minnesota CEO Dave Semerad, as well as several other business journals nationwide.

For more information, contact Brian Turmail at (703) 837-5310 or turmailb@agc.org.

AGC found that while construction employment increased in 26 states this November during a period of warm, dry weather, every state but North Dakota saw a decrease over the past 12 months.  Employment data was released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but AGC says it is too early to know if a trend is emerging.

Read the press release here.

For more information, contact Brian Turmail at (703) 837-5310 or turmailb@agc.org.

The Reno Gazette Journal reported that AGC of Nevada members, along with a hard hat-wearing Santa, delivered food for the needy in a front end loader, and then used it to plow local snowy streets.

What a great way to end a long and difficult year. Read the article here.

For more information, contact Brian Turmail at (703) 837-5310 or turmailb@agc.org.

Today's San-Diego Union Tribune included an article noting the dire state of the construction industry in California and nationwide, raising new concerns for the California Air Resources Board's intention to require costly retrofits and equipment replacements next year.

Read the article here.  For details on AGC's data that is noted in the story, click here.

For more information, contact Brian Turmail at (703) 837-5310 or turmailb@agc.org.

Contractors nationwide are becoming increasingly concerned about possible layoffs next year if Congress does not act on a six-year surface transportation bill, which AGC predicts would reduce federal highway and transit funding by more than $15 billion, or 20 percent.

A recent New Hampshire Union Leader article explored this issue, and included interviews with AGC of New Hampshire and member company Pike Industries.

For more information, contact Brian Turmail at (703) 837-5310 or turmailb@agc.org.

Contractors and other operators of off-road diesel equipment will exceed ambitious new emissions targets set by California officials according to new state figures released today by AGC.  New data from the California Air Resources Board indicates there is no need to impose costly new "diesel retrofit" rules forcing contractors to purchase new equipment before 2014.

Read the press release and other details here. The news was covered by the San Francisco Chronicle, San Diego Daily Transcript, Engineering News-Record and The Daily Reporter, as well as the Sacramento ABC station.

For more information, contact Brian Turmail at (703) 837-5310 or turmailb@agc.org.

Following Monday's announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health, AGC issued a statement calling for the administration to rethink its misguided approach.

AGC said that the finding will delay construction activity, undermine economic recovery and push construction unemployment above its current 19.4 percent rate.  AGC pointed out that while it fully supports measures to improve our environment, EPA's announcement will make it harder to build the greener future our planet needs.  Every construction project in America is now likely to be put on standby until federal bureaucrats decide whether or not to grant Clean Air Act permits, making it even hard to construct efficient new buildings, cut polluting traffic or retrofit existing inefficient buildings.

Read the entire statement here.

For more information, contact Karen Lapsevic at (202) 547-4733 or lapsevick@agc.org.

AGC of Connecticut member Waters Construction was featured on CNN's American Morning for a story about the state of the economy. Mario Smith of Waters Construction explained how, without additional infrastructure investments, his company will not be able to add new employees.

For more information, contact Brian Turmail at (703) 837-5310 or turmailb@agc.org.

President Obama convened a White House Summit on Thursday to discuss actions that can be taken to create jobs. Leaders from business, labor and state and local government, including former AGC president Doug Pitcock who served as AGC's representative, were invited to participate.

Following opening session comments by President Obama and Vice President Biden, the participants separated into breakout groups to discuss specific recommendations. At the breakout session titled "Creating Jobs through the Rebuilding of America's Infrastructure," Pitcock made the point that construction projects have the dual benefit of creating jobs in the short term and providing long-term economic benefits by producing assets that will be here for future generations.

Pitcock also said the project approval process needs to be streamlined so that projects can go to construction quicker. President Obama responded that he is an advocate for investing in infrastructure and understood the approval process needs improvement. He said he is pushing legislation to create a National Infrastructure Bank because he believes that major infrastructure investment needs financial support beyond the annual appropriations process. He also views the bank as a way to leverage private sector funds in support of infrastructure. Watch the session here.

The White House intends to use the recommendations from the Summit to craft a legislative proposal to address unemployment.

For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.