Congress Faces Crowded Schedule

Both Houses of Congress will be in session until the Memorial Day break and both chambers are expected to debate and possibly pass several major legislative initiatives in the next six weeks. Issues that could impact the construction industry may include a financial regulatory reform bill, a short-term extension of tax breaks and benefits programs, a "compromise" climate change and energy proposal, and immigration reform.  While Democratic leaders have indicated a desire to pass immigration and climate change, it will be very difficult and the votes on these measures may fall to later in the year or later. AGC continues to push Congress to enact tax policies that would promote construction activity and business expansion.  Prior to Memorial Day, Congress is expected to finalize the annual tax extenders bill to continue roughly $30 billion in tax incentives through 2010.  The Senate may also take up a small business tax and infrastructure bill that would include an extension of the Build America Bonds program into 2013.  There is also a possibility that the Senate may consider a proposal to set a permanent rate to the estate tax.     An outline for immigration reform from Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has been released despite an uphill climb to find enough votes to pass it this year. AGC is seeking to promote reasonable employer enforcement as well as a new visa program that would create a system to supply the U.S. economy with the workers it needs as the country begins to recover from the downturn. The outline as released has four pillars comprised of border security, interior enforcement, the creation of a process for admitting new provisional workers, and implementing a path to legalization for those already here.  Part of the interior enforcement aspect would include an employment verification system that would hold employers accountable for hiring practices.  Despite the urging of the White House, and a House-passed bill last year, the Senate is still struggling to pass a comprehensive climate and energy bill.  Work continues on a Senate bill, and Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) are said to be close to unveiling their own proposal. AGC has been meeting with key members working on the bill and continues to share the industry's concern that the legislation will restrict construction while failing to recognize the environmental benefits of many construction projects. Additionally, AGC is concerned that the absence of federal legislation has allowed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to push forward with its own regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from mobile and stationary sources under the Clean Air Act. AGC supports a bipartisan resolution sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that would block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.  The next six weeks will be critical to the prospects of getting a long-term multi-year transportation reauthorization bill enacted this year.  Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Cal) said this week that her committee's hearings are now complete and staff will finalize a draft of the Senate bill.  Congress has passed legislation to keep the highway and transit programs operating through the end of the year and provided funds to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent through the first quarter of 2011, but AGC continues to highlight the benefits of enacting long-term, well-funded highway and transit reauthorization legislation. Other issues that the Democratic leaders plan to address do not directly impact the construction industry, but will consume considerable debate time in Congress. These issues include food safety legislation, passing of administration nominees prior to the summer debate, confirmation of a Supreme Court Justice nominee, and campaign finance legislation.