Photo Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District Final bill expected to cut trust fund's share of total aid for Olmsted Locks and Dam on Ohio River, freeing money for other projects. In a move that brings a major, long-pending infrastructure bill close to the finish line, House and Senate conferees have agreed on a compromise measure that would authorize funds for new Army Corps of Engineers water projects and also is expected to map out changes in Corps project reviews.The lawmakers so far have released few details about the new bill, titled the Water Resources Reform and Development
Related Links: Video of Senate Finance Committee hearing; prepared statements and testimony Key Senators' Highway-Bill Outline Needs Revenue Key senators agree that highway and transit funding will hit a critical juncture soon and faces longer-range financial needs. At a May 6 Finance Committee hearing, there was no agreement on specific short- or long-term remedies.The Highway Trust Fund's flagging health is the immediate problem. The Congressional Budget Office projects that, by Sept. 30, the trust fund's highway-account balance will dwindle to $2 billion and its transit account will have $1 billion left, Joseph Kile, a CBO assistant director, testified.Finance Chairman Ron
AP Rep. James Oberstar, elected to 18 terms in Congress, chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Related Links: Au Revoir, Mr. Oberstar (ENR blog on his 2010 farewell press conference) 11/19/2010 ENR Q&A with Oberstar on the stimulus, one year after enactment (enr.com 2/12/2010) [subscription] Former House Transportation Committee Chairman James L. Oberstar, who built a record over more than 30 years as one of the staunchest congressional advocates of highways, transit and other public works, died on May 3 in Potomac, Md. He was 79.A statement from Oberstar's family said he died in his sleep but gave no
Related Links: Bureau of Labor statistics release, with data tables AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's analysis and comments LIUNA General President Terry O'Sullivan's statement ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu's analysis and comments Construction's employment picture continues to brighten, as its April jobless rate fell to 9.4% from March’s 11.3% and its workforce expanded by 32,000 jobs.The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly employment report, released on May 2, also showed that construction’s unemployment rate last month was much better than its April 2013 level of 13.2%.April's construction-jobs growth spanned all industry sectors, led by buildings construction, which gained 11,000.The heavy
Related Links: Prepared text of Ex-Im chairman's April 24 speech Congress Approves Three-Year Ex-Im Bank Measure (enr.com 5/28/2012) [subscription] A Capitol Hill battle is shaping up over the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. The bank provides financial aid to U.S. exporters, including heavy-equipment makers and construction firms. Its authorization expires on Sept. 30. A White House bill to keep Ex-Im running for five years has business groups' support. But at least one key House Republican opposes the proposal.The White House bill, sent to Congress on April 23, would extend Ex-Im through 2019 and raise its aid cap, in steps, to
Related Links: House-Senate Talks on WRDA Bill Get Under Way (ENR 12/2/2013 issue) [subscription] Water-Resources Bill Heads for House-Senate Conference (ENR 11/04/2013 issue) [subscription] After months of discussion between House and Senate conferees, an agreement on a new water-resources bill appeared to be near at ENR press time. The lead House negotiator, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), on April 29 said, "We are inches away from crossing the goal line on a Water Resources Reform and Development Act."The bill would authorize new Army Corps of Engineers' civil-works projects and was expected to include Corps policy changes in
Related Links: Text of Potter Concrete-Justice Dept. settlement agreement Justice Dept. press release 4/17/2014 A Texas concrete contractor has agreed to pay the federal government $115,000 to settle charges that it violated documentation provisions of federal immigration law, the Dept. of Justice has said.DOJ, which announced the agreement on April 17, said its investigation showed that Dallas-based Potter Concrete Ltd. made “unlawful demands” of new hires who were not U.S. citizens.Justice said that the company required newly hired non-U.S. citizens to submit specific Dept. of Homeland Security-issued documents, but it allowed U.S.-citizen new hires to provide “their choice of documentation.”DOJ
Related Links: Text of DOD report House Appropriators Cut FY15 DOD Construction, Hike VA Major-Projects Account (ENR 4/21/2014 issue) [subscription] If a new round of mandatory budget cuts hits the Dept. of Defense in fiscal year 2016, military construction spending would rise from projected 2015 levels but then fall in 2017, the Pentagon has predicted.In a report issued April 16, DOD says if budget sequestration kicks in for 2016, it would result in $7.2 billion for military construction, including aid for DOD family housing. That total would be up 9% from the $6.6 billion President Obama requested for those programs
Related Links: House Appropriations Committee draft report on FY15 military construction-VA bill Webcast of committee's April 9 markup of milcon-VA and legislative branch bills In its first action on fiscal year 2015 spending bills, the House Appropriations Committee has voted to slash Dept. of Defense construction and boost the Dept. of Veterans Affairs major-projects program.The panel, which cleared the military construction-VA bill on April 9, sliced DOD construction 33%, to $6.6 billion. Army construction would be hit hardest among the armed services, with a 52% reduction. Navy-Marines and Air Force programs each would be cut by more than 30%.The committee
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Senate Photo Studio Senators (from left) Carper, Vitter, Boxer and Barrasso seek long-term bill, modest aid hike. Video Courtesy of the Office of Sen. Barbara Boxer Senate EPW Leaders' Press Conference (excludes Q&A) Related Links: Boxer Seeks to Unveil New Transportation Bill in April (enr.com 2/18/2014) [subscription] The search for a new transportation bill has passed a key milepost in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW). Leaders agreed on a blueprint for the highway-policy portion of an eventual long-term measure. The bill could span six years with funding set at current levels, plus small
