Hundreds of federal construction contractors met with major federal construction agencies at the AGC Virtual Federal Contactors Conference. Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, General Services Administration, Small Business Administration, Bureau of Reclamation and Natural Resources Conservation Service participated, with several agencies making significant announcements about their respective programs.

 

On June 17, U.S. Senate passed (75-23) the AGC-backed Great American Outdoors Act, which especially helps address the needs of National Parks Service infrastructure and facilities. The bill would establish the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Fund, which would direct $9.5 billion in non-taxpayer monies over five years to address priority repairs in national parks and on other public lands controlled and operated by the Department of the Interior and its agencies.

 

On May 22, AGC submitted comments to the Department of Defense (DOD) request for input regarding draft guidance for contractor reimbursement under Section 3610 of the CARES Act. Among AGC's concerns with the draft guidance is the potential for the government to double dip into contractor pockets by both receiving credits cost-reimbursement and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that are not forgiven.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed extensive updates to the Multi-Sector General Permit, which covers stormwater discharges from industrial activity. Construction companies that perform activities associated with cement or concrete manufacturing, asphalt paving, minerals mining, or landfill operations will all likely be impacted by the changes. AGC has several concerns with the proposed permit and submitted extensive comments with a broad coalition of industry partners on June 1, 2020.

 

On June 17, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Department of the Treasury released a revised Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application, implementing the fixes from the AGC-backed Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act enacted June 5. The agencies also released a streamlined  “EZ version” of loan forgiveness application that may be used in limited circumstances.

 

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) posted an updated and expanded technical assistance publication addressing questions arising under the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Construction employment rebounded from April to May in 45 states and the District of Columbia, following the loss of nearly one million construction jobs nationwide in April, but the gains may be short-lived, according to an analysis by AGC of America of government data released today and a survey the association released on Thursday. Association officials urged officials in Washington to promptly enact measures to fund infrastructure projects and plug looming state and local budget deficits to avoid a “second wave” of job losses.

The Moving Forward Act’s proposed $1.5 trillion in new investments will improve range of public infrastructure, creating needed demand for construction while making the economy more efficient
 

On June 22, the chief executive officer of AGC of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in reaction to the release of a proposed House measure, known as The Moving Forward Act, that seeks to invest $1.5 trillion in infrastructure: “House leaders understand that one of the best ways to promote new economic growth is by investing in the nation’s aging, and often over-burdened, infrastructure. These investments will create needed new construction careers, promote demand for new construction equipment and materials, and ensure that the economy will be more efficient and effective for years to come. The new House infrastructure proposal will provide the kind of tangible benefits our economy needs to recover."