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Federal Government
Represents Construction Industry before White House, DOL & DOT
Earlier in October, AGC participated in a series of deregulatory events at the White House and federal agencies—including the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Transportation—as the administration continues outreach to AGC for guidance on regulatory reforms to undertake. To date, AGC has provided several hundred pages worth of obsolete, over burdensome or duplicative regulations and detailed recommendations for federal agencies to consider in their quest to cut red tape. For a list of top regulations AGC continues to address, click here.    Last week, a bipartisan group of 59 senators signed a letter calling for reforms to and reauthorization of career and technical education under the Perkins Act. Earlier this year, the House unanimously passed reforms to the Perkins Act through the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, H.R. 2353. The $1 billion program is significant because it helps offset the cost of career and technical education programs and is a component of AGC’s workforce strategy to close the skills gap. The reforms include better aligning education with local needs, promoting work‐based learning, spurring industry‐recognized credentials and providing modest funding increases. Federal Agencies
Discuss Partnering and Agency Reforms
Recently, AGC met with the Commanding General and Chief of Engineers, Military and Civilian leaders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. AGC and the Army Corps discussed how the agency can improve communication and partnering with the construction industry. Among the suggestions, AGC urged more meetings on a regular basis between Army Corps Regions/Districts and AGC local chapters, improved change and budget management, and increase training for Army Corps acquisition personnel.
Strategies to Speed Project Approval
From repeal of the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rules to greater emphasis on public-private partnerships (PPPs), Congress and the Trump administration have begun laying out their strategy to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. They know that for their strategy to work, they must overcome private sector concerns about federal permitting delays. That’s why the president and senior officials have gone out of their way to stress that this administration’s permit approvals will come faster compared to previous years. Expedited approvals, the administration hopes, will jump start private sector partnerships and make progress on one of the president’s most visible campaign themes. 
Workforce
The National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB" or "Board") now has a full complement of five members with a Republican majority for the first time in roughly a decade. This follows from the Sept. 27 swearing in of Republican William J. Emanuel as a Board member for a term ending on Aug. 27, 2021. Emanuel is the second Trump nominee to join the Board, following Republican Marvin E. Kaplan’s swearing in on Aug. 10 for a term ending on Aug. 27, 2020. Upcoming Events
Complimentary AGC Webinar
2 to 3 p.m. ET on November 8, 2017 Register today for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division webinar for AGC members on the requirement for federal contractors to provide seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave annually. The requirement when into effect for contract solicitations issued on or after Jan. 1, 2017.
What You Need to Know
2 to 3 p.m. on November 9, 2017 Register today. Federal agencies now mandate minimum cybersecurity requirements for companies that do business with the federal government. Federal agencies now require federal contractors to implement new security control requirements and ensure sensitive federal information remains confidential when stored in any nonfederal electronic system. It began in 2016 with FAR 52.204-21 (Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information Systems). It continues with DFARS 252.204-7012 (Safeguarding Covered Defense Information & Cyber Incident Reporting), which becomes mandatory for all Department of Defense contracts beginning Dec. 31, 2017. Wednesday, October 18, 2017 Tuesday, October 24, 2017 Tuesday, October 31, 2017 
AGC News
The Willis Towers Watson-AGC Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA) is the industry’s elite safety excellence awards program for contractors of all types and sizes. It is unique because applicants are not only judged based on their submitted applications, but also make five minute presentations to a panel of five judges who then ask questions of the finalists. CSEA recognizes companies that have developed and implemented premier safety and risk control programs and showcases companies that have achieved continuous improvement and maintenance of their safety and health management system. Don’t miss the opportunity to get recognized for your best-in-class safety program! For more information on the Willis-AGC CSEA program and to begin your application, please visit www.agc.org/csea. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, December 15, 2017. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact Kevin Cannon at (703) 837-5410 or cannonk@agc.org.
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma may have affected September job totals for construction and overall economy; association officials say firms likely would have hired more workers but lacked qualified candidates
Construction employment increased by 8,000 jobs in September to the highest level since October 2008, amid a tight labor market that may be keeping contractors from hiring as many workers as they need, according to an analysis of new government data by AGC of America. Association officials said construction employment gains would have been higher if more high school students were exposed to construction as a possible career option. Most major construction spending categories increased from July to August but activity was mixed compared to spending levels a year earlier, according to an analysis of new government data by AGC of America. Association officials noted that big drops in public investments mean infrastructure will continue to deteriorate and impede economic growth. |
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Associated General Contractors of America 2300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300 - Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 703-548-3118 | Fax: 703-548-3119 | www.agc.org |
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