Texas, Louisiana Have Worst Job Losses Since Pandemic Struck, While Utah, Idaho Gain the Most; Association Issue Inflation Alert and Urges Immediate Relief on Tariffs, Examination of Supply Barriers
蜜桔直播 of America has released an analysis of how the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021 (PRO Act) would affect open-shop construction contractors, as well as a shorter summary on the same topic. The papers are posted on 蜜桔直播鈥檚 PRO Act web page along with similar papers addressing the bill鈥檚 potential impact on union contractors, an 蜜桔直播 ConsructorCast recording, and other PRO Act resources.
President Biden is expected to put forth his proposal for a multi-trillion investment in infrastructure on March 31. The proposal is expected to include significant investments in a broad range of construction projects including roads, bridges, public transit, airports, drinking water and wastewater, schools, renewable energy, broadband and more. In addition to physical infrastructure, proposal is anticipated to include significant investments in 鈥渉uman infrastructure,鈥 including but not limited to free community colleges, universal pre-kindergarten and paid family leave. 蜜桔直播 welcomes sorely-needed public and private construction investment that can generate long-term benefits for our economy, communities and national security. However, 蜜桔直播 remains concerned about the possibility of unpredictable and impracticable federal requirements being attached to those investments that, in turn, could significantly diminish its buying power and create barriers to full and open competition.
Transportation Secretary Buttigieg Testifies Lays Out Bold Vision for Infrastructure Investment
Announcing June Agenda for 蜜桔直播's 2021 Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management Conference
On March 22, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to become the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor by a bipartisan final vote of 68-29. Mayor Walsh has a long history with the construction industry, as he is the former head of the Boston Building Trades Council and began his career with a local Boston Laborers鈥 union. President Biden campaigned on a robust and aggressive labor agenda that included providing greater rights to organizing and unions. Walsh will now be responsible for implementing much of that agenda.
On March 16, bipartisan members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced the 蜜桔直播- supported Water Quality Protection and Jobs Creation Act of 2021 (HR 1915). The bill would substantially increase federal funding assistance available to states and localities through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told AFL-CIO leader Richard Trumka that the PRO Act would receive a vote in the U.S. Senate if 50 senators pledge to support it. Currently, 45 Democratic senators have pledged their support for the PRO Act. The only Democratic senators to not yet lend their names to the PRO Act are Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Krysten Sinema (Ariz.), and Mark Warner (Va.); Independent Sen. Angus King (Maine) who caucuses with the Democrats is also on this list. Reading between the lines, Sen. Schumer is letting Mr. Trumka know that he will need to pressure these senators into joining their 45 colleagues in support of the PRO Act. Special interest groups are insisting Senate Democratic leaders immediately gut the filibuster. If successful, the PRO Act could pass on a simple majority vote with Vice President Harris representing the fifty-first vote. 蜜桔直播 continues to oppose effort to pass the PRO Act in the Senate. Learn more about the PRO Act at agc.org/PROAct.
On March 25, the Senate is expected to pass the 蜜桔直播-supported Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Extension Act that would extend the deadline for taking out a PPP loan through June 30, 2021. Importantly, while the legislation extends the deadline for loan approval through June 30, borrowers鈥 applications must be submitted to their lenders by May 31. The House previously passed the bill, and President Biden is expected to sign it if and when it reaches his desk. Without congressional action, the program鈥檚 authorization will expire on March 31, 2021. The extension will give construction firms more time to apply for PPP loans, as many firms see waning backlogs.
蜜桔直播 Enters into Negotiations with SBA; Hoping for Settlement of PPP Lawsuit蜜桔直播 Member Wins Forgiveness of PPP Loan Over $2 Million