The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement today in connection with the proposed Senate tax reform measure:

Latest Update on WOTUS Rule Status

Construction employment increased in 243 out of 358 metro areas between October 2016 and October 2017, declined in 59 and stagnated in 56, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the best way to ensure metro areas continue to add construction jobs is to treat small and medium-sized employers more fairly and include new infrastructure funding as part of federal tax reform.

Forty-one states added construction jobs between October 2016 and October 2017, while 26 states added construction jobs between September and October, continuing a pattern of widespread but uneven growth in industry employment, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. The association’s chief economist suggested that recent job gains would have been more widespread if enough qualified workers were available.

Calls for Congressional Repeal These Agency Policies

AGC submitted comments November 6 to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) supporting its proposal to repeal an Obama-era rule requiring states to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when planning transportation improvement projects. AGC joined with 38 other organizations with similar interests in transportation infrastructure enhancements in challenging FHWA’s authority to mandate the measurements pointing out that Congress, in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, called for development of performance measurement standards but specifically limited those measures to safety related issues, pavement and bridge conditions and congestion.

Operating Engineers Local 18 has lost another battle in its war to regain jurisdiction over operation of forklifts and skid steers, this time in circuit court. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (KY, MI, OH, TN) on October 31 upheld decisions by the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) that members of the Laborers were entitled to the work and ordering Local 18 to cease striking, threatening to strike, and maintaining grievances against the employers involved.

The Senate has confirmed Peter B. Robb to be General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a four-year term. Robb is presently a management-side labor and employment lawyer with the law firm Downs Rachlin Martin in Vermont. His prior employment includes serving as chief counsel to an NLRB member.

Helps Contractors Meet Green Building Owners’ Requirements

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have opened a docket to collect written comments on how “Waters of the United State” or WOTUS definition should revised. The agencies have spent the last few months gathering public feedback through a series of listening sessions and an in-person meeting for small entities. AGC participated in the listening session for construction and transportation and is preparing written recommendations by the Nov. 28, 2017, deadline. It is not too late to participate, see below for information on how.