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Education/Training
May 15-24: Introduction To Construction Plans & Spec Documents (Rescheduled) May 17: First Aid/CPR/AED May 19: Texas Lien Laws May 19: Advanced Texas Lien Laws May 25: Employment Practices HR Roundtable May 31: Contract Law (Rescheduled) June 8: Tech Talk 1.1 - Taking Technology to the Jobsite (Rescheduled from May 11) Safety
May 15-18: OSHA 3095: Electrical Standards May 15-18: RM 701: Advanced Accident Investigation
May 19: Safety Committee - Contact Kim Mason for details. Sponsored by Slack & Co.
May 17: First Aid/CPR/AED
My 30-June 1: OSHA 3015: Excavation, Trenching, Soil Mechanics
AGC News
Contact your US representative to urge him or her to support the repeal of the burdensome prior approval requirement by co-sponsoring H.R. 2101 - the Prior Approval Reform Act. This legislation would repeal the prior approval requirement that is unfairly imposed upon and discriminates against corporate-member trade association PACs, like AGC PAC. Under the Federal Election Campaign Act, your company is required to grant written approval to the national PAC if individuals on the administrative/executive team would like to learn more about the PAC and/or be solicited to contribute. No other political entity, including corporate, labor union, and individual membership association PACs, is subject to the prior approval requirement.
AGC of America says construction material costs have increased significantly, led by a 19 percent rise in steel mill products and 17 percent for copper and brass between March 2016 and March 2017. Construction companies have not been able to increase prices as quickly as costs and urges the federal government not to restrict the importation of materials.
The Associated General Contractors of America believes the lack of available skilled workers was a factor in why construction employment increased by only 5,000 jobs in April. "It is time for our elected officials to start signaling to students that high-paying construction jobs should be on the menu of possible career choices," said Stephen Sandherr, AGC's CEO, who added that the "best way to send that signal is to provide the funding and flexibility to set up programs that expose more students to the opportunities that exist in construction careers."
Events
Member News
 With the kick off the of Safety Stand-Down on Monday, AGC Houston members are hosting Safety Stand-Down demonstrations on jobsites across the city and in the workplace through May 19. Since 2015, AGC Houston has aligned its Safety Stand-Down program with OSHA—and extended it one additional week beyond the national event. This allows for more safety stand-downs to take place throughout the greater Houston area.
On Tuesday, May 9, Anslow Bryant Construction, Ltd. stopped work at its Hotel ZaZa jobsite for an hour to focus on fall protection and ladder safety. More than 200 construction workers representing a wide array of trades heard from Jim Shelton, OSHA, speak about fall protection and watched demonstrations by Charles Gertson of United Tool & Fastener on harnesses, straps, and the proper way to use fall protection. 2017 Standard of Excellence recipient Carlos Escheverria, Superintendent for Anslow Bryant Construction, Ltd. translated the presentations in Spanish. Roger David, Werner and Wesley Dobek, DeWalt
led additional presentations.  On Thursday, May 4, 2017, the Houston SPCA and Linbeck Group, LLC celebrated the construction midpoint of its premier, state-of-the-art "Campus for All Animals" on the new site, adjacent to the shelter’s existing location at 900 Portway Drive.
The ceremony featured remarks by representatives from the Houston SPCA and from Linbeck Group, LLC, the construction team for the multi-million-dollar project.
Other event highlights included an installation of the highest point of the new Adoption Center—the cupola—above the new Center’s lobby.
When complete, the 60,000-square-foot Adoption Center will showcase animals available for adoption, and will be home to the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas and administrative offices. Two additional buildings—a Rescue Arena and Education Center—will add a total of 40,000 square feet to the project.
    Andrew Landry joined Slack & Co. Contracting, Inc. in April as Project Manager. Landry relocated to Houston from Baton Rouge, La. where he worked as a project manager for J.B. James Construction, LLC. Landry, who has six years of civil construction experience, began working in the industry prior to graduating from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Construction Engineering Technology.
News you can Use
At the end of April, the American Institute of Architect released its decennial updates to the standard form of agreements A101,
A102, A103, A104 (previously A107), A105, A201 General Conditions, and A401 form of subcontract.
The AIA is also introducing two new templates, the insurance exhibit and the E204 Sustainable Projects Exhibit, as
well as revised agreements between the owner and architect and the owner and consultants.
Please join Peckar & Abramson, May 24 from 7:30-10 a.m. at the AGC Houston office for an in-depth and interactive discussion of the changes and how they impact your company.
President Donald Trump's "Buy American" executive order is likely to increase material costs and bring the risk of material shortages on federal projects, according to attorney Amandeep Kahlon. Such shortages could lead to an increased risk of fraud and may force contractors to alter their bidding practices, he contends.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's new rule on silica exposure will go into effect Sept. 23, instead of June 23, to give the agency time to develop "guidance materials and training for compliance officers."
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched its Safe and Sound Campaign recently, calling on employers to review their safety and health programs to protect workers, and reduce workplace injuries and deaths.
Contractors must be well-acquainted with Federal Aviation Administration rules on drone use before attempting to include them in construction activities, writes Emily Peiffer. Contractors should decide who will fly the drones, develop company guidelines for their use and set up an insurance plan before moving forward, she says.
Membership Benefits
Here's Looking at You
 AGC Houston members headed to Crisp restaurant in The Heights on May 4 for our quarterly membership networking mixer. Many thanks to all who attended and especially to Oxford Builders, Inc. for sponsoring the event. Congratulations to Oxford Builders, Inc. on their 20th anniversary!
A big congratulations to Steven Turner, Brookstone, LP who walked away with a new drone and to Tara Kirkland, Linbeck Group, LLC who won an iPad courtesy of Oxford Builders, Inc.! Mark you calendar for the next Member Mixer Thursday, August 3 at Crisp. View photos here.  Eighteen students pursuing a construction-related degree received a Patrick J Kiley Excellence In Leadership Scholarship on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at the HESS Club.In its 22nd year, the AGC Houston scholarship program has conferred $462,000 to date. The annual event featured guest speaker Mike Feinberg, Co-Founder of the KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Houston charter school who spoke about the impact education has on a child and society. His motto, "Work Hard. Play Nice," served as the theme during his presentation.
New Members
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