AGC Advocates for Additional Funding for Infrastructure As President Unveils 2011 Budget

The White House announced this week that President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address on January 27 and release his FY 2011 budget February 1.  It is widely believed that the State of the Union and the president’s budget will focus on cutting the federal deficit and may downplay other new domestic programs beyond jobs programs.  In order for the administration to achieve the goal of deficit reduction, the FY2011 budget may contain a discretionary spending freeze at some federal agencies.  At the same time the president wants to ensure policies are in place that will lead to the creation of jobs.  Deficit reduction and job creation will be a difficult balancing act for the administration to achieve.  The impact of the FY 2011 budget on spending for federal construction programs remains to be seen.  AGC will continue to work with relevant federal agencies and the Congress to ensure adequate funding is provided for these programs.  A detailed chart tracking budget requests and final appropriated dollars for these programs can be found here FY 2010 Budget | AGC - The Associated General Contractors of America.  Thanks in part to AGC’s advocacy, the final appropriated dollars for federal construction programs in FY 2010 was 2.4 percent greater than requested in the president’s budget and 1.7 percent greater than what was appropriated in FY 2009. AGC showed the need for increased investment in infrastructure during a media conference call yesterday, which included results from a construction outlook survey completed by AGC members. The news was covered by Reuters,Seattle Times, Miami Herald and Omaha World Herald, among others. Meanwhile, Ken Simonson urged owners to move on projects quickly.