On July 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3684, the INVEST in America Act, a $715 billion federal investment in America鈥檚 roads, bridges, transit, passenger rail, and drinking and wastewater infrastructure. 蜜桔直播 lobbied against several of the policies included in the bill. However, its passage in the House is a first step towards enacting record levels of federal investment in infrastructure. It continues to remain unclear how this legislation will intersect with larger infrastructure package negotiations between the White House and a bipartisan group of senators. The 蜜桔直播 summary of the INVEST in America Act can be viewed here. 蜜桔直播 will continue to push for policy improvements to the bill.
Construction Officials Urge Federal Officials to Allow Unemployment Supplements to Expire, Take Steps to address Supply-Chain Backups and Remove Tariffs on Key Materials so Firms can Perform More Work
We're all eager to get back to in-person conferences, but you won't want to miss the exceptional lineup of environmental sessions we've assembled for 2021's Construction Safety, Health & Environmental Virtual Conference on July 20-22. That's why we've slashed the price for this year's virtual conference and made it free to all 蜜桔直播 members. Participate at your own pace and learn about climate, community, corporate transparency, species, and water issues.
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and Odessa, Texas Have Worst 15-Month Construction Job Losses; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis. and Fargo, N.D.-Minn. Top Lists of Metros with Job Gains
Filings Now Due on August 23, 2021
With COVID-19 restrictions lifting in the City of Philadelphia, GBCA鈥檚 Construction Leadership Council has come back together in-person! On June 10, 2021, the CLC hosted an in-person workshop and networking event at a local brewery.
After 15 months of virtual meetings, virtual workshops, and virtual 鈥渕eet-ups,鈥 the CLC wanted an opportunity to rethink networking, and get a refresher on making business and industry connections. Matt Blank, Director of Business Development of Friedman LLP, spoke about building business through networking and relationships, as opposed to a hard sell. This approach to business development and relationship-building starts with a strong conversation.
On June 22, 蜜桔直播 of America鈥檚 Federal & Heavy Construction division met with the Pre-Command Course for incoming District Commanders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 蜜桔直播 and the Army Corps discussed solutions to the challenges facing our nation鈥檚 infrastructure and how the Army Corps can better partner with the construction industry. 蜜桔直播 emphasized the strain contractors are facing with construction materials at record high prices and the continued availability challenges. 蜜桔直播 urged District Commanders to partner with 蜜桔直播 Chapters and member contractors back in their district offices, and also providing government guidance encouraging such meetings. 蜜桔直播 looks forward to continuing its decades long partnership with the Army Corps to ensure the delivery of high-quality facilities and infrastructure and will help ensure a brighter future for the construction industry, the Army Corps, and our nation.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently requested public input on company disclosure of information associated with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and climate change risks, impacts, and opportunities. In response, 蜜桔直播鈥檚 June 11 letter to agency offered key principles for the SEC to consider: 1) support of voluntary and flexible, market-based disclosures; 2) adherence to the Supreme Court鈥檚 鈥渕ateriality鈥 standard and existing rules; 3) base disclosures on sound data and a workable framework for companies of different sizes and industries; and 4) set boundaries on the scope of reporting and limits on legal liability.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) intends to withdraw the 鈥淟oan Necessity Questionnaire鈥 that has heavily burdened and delayed all applications for forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $2 million or more. 蜜桔直播 sued SBA last December for developing the form entirely in secret, and without public input, and for using the form to change the de facto requirements for the forgiveness of such loans. During lawsuit settlement negotiations, 蜜桔直播 learned of SBA鈥檚 decision to withdraw the questionnaire. Recently, 蜜桔直播 has also received an exceptionally large number of reports about SBA approving these loans for forgiveness. This is excellent news for the thousands of 蜜桔直播 members who accepted such loans in good faith in order to keep their people working.