Related Links: Link to FY 2014 budget documents President Obama’s fiscal year 2014 budget proposal again makes a strong pitch for boosting federal infrastructure funding, but only some construction programs would share in the increases.Under the president's budget request, sent to Congress on April 10, highway and transit accounts would receive modest hikes compared with 2013 levels and General Services Administration funding for federal buildings would soar. But airport grants and wastewater-treatment facility aid would be cut.The voluminous proposal's fate will depend on congressional budget and appropriations committees. Reactions split along party lines. Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) said
Related Links: Bureau of Labor Statistics employment report for March 2013 Associated General Contractors analysis Associated Builders and Contractors analysis The construction jobs picture continued to improve in March, as the industry added 18,000 jobs and its unemployment rate declined, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported. But the job gains were not as strong as in February. The BLS monthly report, released on April 5, said construction’s March unemployment rate fell to 14.7%, from February’s 15.7%. Last month’s rate also was better than the March 2012 level of 17.2% and was the lowest March figure since 2008.
President Obama’s March 29 visit to PortMiami—the site of a $1-billion tunnel project financed partly by private funding—gave him the opportunity to promote ways of increasing both public and private funding for infrastructure. Noting the locale of Obama’s infrastructure push, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) criticized the president for federal inaction on funding for a high-priority dredging project at the Miami port. Photo courtesy Parsons Brinckerhoff President Obama used his March 29 visit to PortMiami to renew his call for increased public and private spending on infrastructure projects. Related Links: Port Of Miami Tunnel Project Features Big Challenges WRDA Bill
File photo courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation New document covers more agencies than previous version. BuRec programs still covered. Related Links: New Principles and Guidelines (Via White House) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1983 Principles and Guidelines After years of discussion and drafting, the White House has issued revised standards for evaluating federally funded water projects. Announced by the Council on Environmental Quality on March 22, the new Principles and Guidelines, or P&G, are the first rewrite of this key planning document in 30 years.The new P&G give more prominence to environmental factors than did the 1983 version and add
Photo Courtesy of the White House/Pete Souza President Obama visited the PortMiami tunnel project and called for increased infrastructure funding from public and private sources. Related Links: Transcript of Obama 3/29/13 remarks in Miami WRDA Bill Clears Senate Committee (ENR 4/1/13 issue) President Obama paid a March 29 visit to PortMiami—the site of a $1-billion tunnel project financed partly by private funding—and promoted ways of increasing both public and private funding for infrastructure."There are few more important things that we can do to create jobs right now and strengthen our economy over the long haul than rebuilding the infrastructure that
White House Photo by Pete Souza While visiting PortMiami on March 29, President Obama toured the ongoing tunnel project, which was funded partly with private funds. Photo courtesy Bouygues Civil Works Florida President Obama touted his proposals for increasing public and private investment in infrastructure projects. Related Links: Transcript of Obama's March 29 remarks in Miami Video: President Obama Speaks on Infrastructure and the Economy Miami's Big Dig Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) used the occasion of President Obama’s March 29 visit to PortMiami to highlight the state’s increasing investments in port improvement projects, while chiding the president and the
Related Links: Senate Spending Bill Would Restore Highway Funds (ENR.com 3/12/13) Budget Battle Heats Up on Capitol Hill (ENR 3/25/13 issue) Congress has cleared a six-month continuing resolution (CR) to keep federal agencies, including construction programs, operating through Sept. 30, when fiscal 2013 ends.The CR, which President Obama signed March 26, includes sequestration cuts, which affect many construction accounts. But the bill adds nearly $700 million to highway and transit programs, setting them at 2012 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act levels.The House and Senate also have passed budget resolutions for fiscal 2014 that differ greatly. The
Related Links: Obama Feb. 6 remarks announcing intent to nominate Jewell Archived webcast of committee vote The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has cleared the nomination of Sally Jewell, President Obama's pick to succeed Ken Salazar as Interior secretary.The panel approved Jewell on March 21 by a 9-3 vote. Jewell's nomination now goes to the full Senate.Critics say the former Recreational Equipment Inc. CEO lacks the experience needed to lead the Interior, but environmental groups support her nomination.
Related Links: Link to texts of Senate committee bill, manager's amendment, other approved amendments Lawmakers Eye Harbor Maintenance Fund's Surplus (ENR 2/11/13) A new Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, has picked up steam in Congress. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on March 20 unanimously approved a bill that would authorize new Corps of Engineers projects, revise civil-works policies and give added financial help to get projects built.Industry officials say they welcome progress on the WRDA bill and generally support its provisions. But environmental groups contend some policy provisions would weaken key environmental laws."We're just really pleased that
Related Links: Text of Mikulski-Shelby Continuing Resolution proposal, before amendments Summary of CR House passed on March 6 Congress has approved a spending bill that will avert a shutdown and keep agencies operating through Sept. 30. Construction industry officials were pleased that the final version funds the federal highway program at levels contained in 2012's Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, or MAP-21.The Senate on March 20 passed a continuing resolution (CR) drafted by Appropriations Committee Chairman Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) with the panel's ranking Republican, Richard Shelby (Ala.). The House approved the Senate measure on March 21.
