Members' Edge - January 18, 2018

Education/Training

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=483182&issueID=57403 to view the full article online.

AGC Houston Scholarship Applications Due January 31

Applications are now being accepted through January 31, 2018. We've streamlined the application process; don't miss out on this opportunity to apply! For specific information related to the application process, please click here.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=483449&issueID=57403 to view the full article online.

Tax Reform’s Impact On Your Construction Business & Market

Complimentary AGC Webinar January 30 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Register today for this complimentary AGC webinar. Congress recently passed the most far-reaching tax reform legislation since 1986. No matter what your construction market—public or private—or construction firm—C-corporation, S-corporation, LLC, LLP, or partnership—the new tax reform law will have an impact on you.

During this webinar, you will hear tax and accounting firm CBIZ’s Cord Armstrong, a CPA and leader in the firm’s National Construction Industry Practice Group, AGC’s lead infrastructure and tax lobbyists and policy experts on Capitol Hill and with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Sean O’Neill and Matt Turkstra, respectively, and AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson.

Visit https://www.agc.org/learn/education-training/events/webed-tax-reform%E2%80%99s-impact-your-construction-business-market to view the full article online.

AGC News

New Year, New Process. Don't Miss The Deadline For The TBB Outstanding Construction Awards!

The AGC Texas Building Branch has instituted a new online submittal process for the awards.

•General Contractors and Specialty Contractors can submit projects in 30 categories.

•No entry fees!

•Winning projects will be recognized at the AGC TBB Annual Convention, June 6-9, 2018 at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, PA.

Visit https://agchouston.org/AGCH/News/Articles/TBB_Outstanding_Construction_Awards.aspx to view the full article online.

75 Percent of Construction Firms Plan To Expand Their Payrolls In 2018

According to survey results released January 3, 2018, by AGC of America of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate, 75 percent of construction firms plan to expand their payrolls in 2018 as contractors are optimistic that economic conditions will remain strong as tax rates and regulatory burdens fall. Despite the general optimism outlined in Expecting Growth to Continue: The 2018 Construction Industry Hiring and Business Outlook, many firms report they remain worried about workforce shortages and infrastructure funding.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2018/01/03/seventy-five-percent-construction-firms-plan-expand-headcount-2018-contractors-are-0 to view the full article online.

AGC Urges FWS To Scrap Mitigation Policies That Go Above and Beyond The Law

On Jan. 5, AGC urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to remove the goal of "net conservation gain" from the Service’s Mitigation Policy and Endangered Species Act (ESA)–Compensatory Mitigation Policy, finalized in late 2016. AGC asserts that that the "improvement" goal is not supported under the ESA; the goal fails to provide a clear limit on how much mitigation is necessary and blurs the line between recommendations and requirements.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2018/01/12/agc-urges-fws-scrap-mitigation-policies-go-above-and-beyond-law to view the full article online.

Use The AGC-Supported CICA Center to Meet All of Your Environmental Services Needs

Have you explored the Construction Industry Compliance Assistance (CICA) Center yet? The AGC-supported CICA Center is a free online resource on environmental compliance and sustainability that is open to the entire U.S. construction industry. The Center is an online clearinghouse of resources on the top rules you will need to keep track of during your construction projects.

Visit http://www.cicacenter.org/ to view the full article online.

December Brought Significant Changes In NLRB Positions and Composition, Including AGC-Supported Reversal of Joint Employer Ruling

Republicans’ brief control of the National Labor Relations Board ended with the expiration of Chairman Philip Miscimarra’s term on Dec. 16, 2017. In anticipation of the change, the Board issued several employer-friendly decisions with significant impact. The most high-profile among them is a ruling in Hy-Brand Industrial Contractors that overturns the controversial, AGC-opposed joint-employer standard established in Browning-Ferris Industries.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2018/01/10/december-brought-significant-changes-nlrb-positions-and-composition-including-agc to view the full article online.

News you can Use

Louisiana Governor Wants to Borrow $600M for Interstate Projects

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards plans to borrow $600 million from the federal government for interstate expansion projects, including widening Interstate 10 for $350 million. The state Legislature and the federal government must approve the plan.

Visit https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/louisiana/articles/2018-01-12/600m-in-louisiana-interstate-projects-moving-toward-reality to view the full article online.

U.S. Court of Appeals Rejects 'All Of Industry's Challenges' to Silica Rule

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District Columbia rejected challenges to OSHA's 2016 silica rule made by industry groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A spokesperson for the U.S. Chamber said the chamber still is reviewing the decision, "but we continue to believe that OSHA lacks substantial evidence to support its rule." In 2016, OSHA published a final rule regulating workplace exposure to silica, Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica (29 CFR 1910, 1915 and 1926). Read the full article here.

Read "D.C. Circuit Rejects All Industry Challenges to OSHA’s New Silica Standards" here.

AGC Houston Silica Task force members spent more than a year clarifying the hard questions that aren't specifically addressed in the silica standard for construction. View more information and resources here.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=483200&issueID=57403 to view the full article online.

NextOp Hosts Recruiting Event February 8

Looking to enhance your workforce?

NextOp is hosting a luncheon on February 8, 2018 to showcase how companies can get connected with prescreened, qualified veterans who are looking to enter the workforce in construction.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/pdf/AGC_IT_W4L_Luncheon_2018_Flyer_(CP).pdf to view the full article online.

DOL Reissues 17 Wage And Hour Opinion Letters

On January 5, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) reissued 17 previously withdrawn opinion letters addressing a wide range of topics under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 15 of the 17 letters were originally signed off on during the final days of the Bush administration, but were withdrawn by the Obama administration "for further consideration by the Wage and Hour Division" on March 2, 2009, and stated that it would "provide a further response in the near future," but never did.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2018/01/11/dol-reissues-17-wage-and-hour-opinion-letters to view the full article online.

Construction Employers Add 24,000 Jobs In November and 184,000 Over the Year

AGC Of America released the following metrics in the construction industry employment and unemployment rates:

Construction employment increased by 24,000 jobs in November to the highest level since November 2008, according to an analysis of new government data by AGC of America. Construction employment totaled 6,955,000 in November, a gain of 24,000 for the month and 184,000, or 2.7 percent, over 12 months.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2017/12/08/construction-employers-add-24000-jobs-november-and-184000-over-year-hourly-earning-0 to view the full article online.

Modular Construction Will Build New Momentum in 2018

Factories in flat-packs and homes built in factories — modular construction will build new momentum in 2018. However, the industry is battling with significant skills shortages and must manage increasing globalization.

Visit https://www.forconstructionpros.com/business/article/20988270/modular-construction-will-build-new-momentum-in-2018 to view the full article online.

Microsoft Targeting Construction Trades With New Mixed Reality Hard Hat Accessory

Microsoft recently announced that a HoloLens hard hat accessory is in the works and will be released early 2018. In addition to the accessory, the HoloLens has also passed some important safety and durability tests. These tests have recently confirmed that the headset meets the requirements of ANSI Z87.1, which allows them to be used as safety glasses, and it has also been rated IP50 for dust protection.

Visit https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2017/12/17/microsoft-targeting-construction-trades-with-new-mixed-reality-hard-hat-accessory to view the full article online.