Thirty-four construction professionals received a first-ever new national accreditation in the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM), a process that relies on computer-generated models to better manage construction projects. The professional accreditation, which is being offered by AGC, is the first assessment-based credential to recognize construction professionals on their ability to use the process.

AGC's chief executive officer , Stephen E. Sanderr, issued the following statement in response to last night's House vote (by a margin of 422 to 0) to repeal the 3 percent tax withholding mandate: "The repeal of the 3 percent tax withholding mandate will provide a much-needed boost for construction employers across the country.  The fact contractors won’t be forced into providing billions in interest-free loans to the federal government beginning in 2013 is welcome news for a hard hit industry and its struggling workers."

The amount contractors pay for a range of key construction materials dropped slightly (-0.6 percent) in October but climbed 6.9 percent from the year-earlier level, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by AGC. Meanwhile, the price contractors charge for new nonresidential building construction edged up only 3.3 to 4.3 percent over 12 months, depending on building type.

In response to the Senate vote (by a margin of 95 to 0) to repeal the 3 percent tax withholding mandate, AGC's chief executive officer, Stephen E. Sandherr issued the following statement: "An overwhelming bipartisan majority of Senators understand that repealing the 3 percent tax withholding mandate is essential to boosting economic growth. With construction activity down by $400 billion and the industry's unemployment rate at 13.7 percent, the last thing construction employers need is to be forced into giving interest-free loans to the federal government. That is why today's Senate vote comes as welcome news for construction firms, workers and taxpayers alike. As our members made clear in a recently released survey, many firms will be better able to offer positions to the veterans this legislation also supports without the enormous cost of this measure looming."

Monday evening, the U.S. Senate  voted 94 to 1 to proceed to consideration of H.R. 674, a bill to repeal the 3 percent income tax withholding law, with a final vote on passage due by Wednesday. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) was the single vote against proceeding.

The construction industry lost 20,000 jobs between September and October as the segment’s unemployment rate hit 13.7 percent, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by AGC. Association officials said the employment drop reflects continued declines in public sector investments. They added that construction employment could benefit from increased transportation investment and other pro-growth measures designed to boost private sector demand.

Construction spending increased by 0.2 percent between August and September but was down 1.3 percent compared to September 2010, AGC reported today in an analysis of new Census Bureau data.  Association officials noted that growing declines in public sector activity continue to offset modest increases in private sector demand for construction.

Construction employment declined in 153 out of 337 metropolitan areas between September 2010 and September 2011, increased in 145 and stayed level in 39, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that declines in publicly funded construction projects continue to offset modest improvements in private sector marker.

AGC's chief executive officer, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement today in response to the House vote (by a margin of 405 to 16) to repeal the 3 percent tax withholding measure: "An overwhelming majority of Representatives understand that the 3 percent tax withholding measure would force construction firms to provide the federal government with interest-free loans at a time when construction activity has declined by $400 billion and unemployment rates stand at over 13 percent.  Such a measure would force contractors to cut staff, purchase less equipment and raise bid levels for publicly funded projects, as a survey the association released last week found.

The new federal 3 percent tax withholding rule will force all large municipalities, all states and all federal agencies to withhold 3 percent of every payment to every contractor until contractors finalize their tax returns for the year.