Other Senate Committees Must Act on Transit, Rail Programs
On May 20, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a new initiative to permit, on an experimental basis, contractors to utilize geographic, economic, or other hiring preferences on federal-aid highway projects. This “local hire” initiative will be carried out as a pilot program for a period of 4 years (unless extended) under FHWA’s existing experimental contracting authority. AGC is broadly opposed to local hire preference policies. After yesterday’s pilot program release, AGC CEO Steve Sandherr stated, in part: “[T]he problem with local hire programs, however, is that they solve the symptom and not the problem...too many communities have defunded their career and technical education programs and as a result there are often too few local workers with any interest in construction careers or basic skills that would make them qualified to be hired.”
U.S. Treasury Outlines How States Can Spend $350 Billion State & Local Government COVID-Relief
Would Provide $35 Billion in the Nation’s Water Infrastructure
Would Add New Federal Labor Requirements to Getting Tax Credits
Supports AASHTO Request for Additional Highway & Bridge Investment
On April 15, AGC, along with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and other industry stakeholders, called on Congress to authorize $200 billion in highway and bridge stimulus or “down payment” funding in any infrastructure package, available to be obligated through 2026 at 100 percent federal share. The request also asks that Congress provide $487 billion for the Federal-aid Highway Program as part of the upcoming five-year surface transportation reauthorization due by October 1. According to a recent USDOT report, the current investment backlog for highways and bridges stands at $756 billion. This funding request would finally address this longstanding investment backlog in our nation’s roads and bridges.
$1 Billion in RAISE Grants Tied to Administration’s Policy Objectives
Senate Republicans are reportedly preparing a counteroffer to the White House’s $2 trillion infrastructure proposal. West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito and others in a Republican working group have stated that such a proposal would be in the range of $600 to $800 billion, more targeted in scope— focusing on traditional infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports, airports, broadband, and water infrastructure— and would be funded by unspecified user fees. AGC will continue to monitor Congressional activity on infrastructure and surface transportation reauthorization negotiations.