In its current session, Congress faces deadlines on key appropriations, surface transportation, aviation and tax measures. Construction officials would love to see lawmakers pass multi-year transportation and aviation bills, but they say further stopgaps are likely. The first deadline applies to a continuing resolution (CR) that keeps appropriations flowing through Dec. 3. American Highway Users Alliance President Greg Cohen says an omnibus spending bill is in the works, but adds, “I think that that will be very difficult. … If they have to go to a CR, then it’ll probably be extended … at least until January 31 or later.”
Republicans’ takeover of the House and gains in the Senate could spell bad news for construction’s goal of seeing large funding increases for infrastructure programs in 2011. Graphic: Walter Konefal With some races still unsettled, the GOP projects a net increase of 65 seats, which would total 243 House seats. Democrats did hang on to the Senate, though their majority dwindled to 53 from 59. Among the Democrats’ House casualties were three committee chairs, including Transportation and Infrastructure panel leader James Oberstar (Minn.), a fixture on the committee for more than 30 years. Jeffrey Shoaf, the Associated General Contractors’ senior
This year started out well, with a stimulus jolt to the depressed homebuilding and public-works markets. But it ended badly when the tax credits to home buyers expired, federal stimulus spending fell short of expectations, and the non-residential building market tanked all on its own. As a result, 2010 will probably become known in the economic lexicon as “the stalled recovery.” In a word, what stalled is housing, which traditionally leads the construction industry out of a recession. A year ago economists were predicting 30% increases in the housing market, but that turned into a mere 6% gain, not enough
Construction's unemployment rate rose slightly in October, to 17.3% from September's 17.2%, but the good news was that it was better than October 2009's 18.7%. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest monthly employment report, released on Nov. 5, also shows that construction posted an increase in jobs for the month, though the gain was only 5,000. The BLS jobless rate figures for individual industries are not adjusted for seasonal swings. For the highly seasonal construction industry, the rates usually worsen in cold-weather months, when work slows down. Thus, the year-over-year comparisons give a better picture of construction employment trends than
Republicans' takeover of the House and gains in the Senate could make major funding increases in infrastructure bills harder to achieve in 2011. With some races still unsettled as of the afternoon of Nov. 3, the GOP had scored a net increase of 60 seats in the House, giving the party a total of 239. Democrats hung on to the Senate, though their majority had dwindled to 51, from 59 prior to the election. Among the Democratic casualties were some House committee chairmen, including James Oberstar (Minn.), head of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and a fixture on that panel
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has pumped another $2.5 billion into the high-speed-rail funding pipeline and is increasing the flow of actual obligations from its $8-billion first rail round. The moves are good news for the states that won grants and companies pursuing the work. However, whether the new Congress will approve another installment of Photo: California High Speed Rail Authority California won the largest amount, $901.6 million, in the second round of U.S. DOT rail grants. high-speed-rail (HSR) aid in 2011 remains an open question. In announcing the winners of the $2.5-billion round-two competition on Oct. 28, DOT Secretary
Republicans’ newly won majority in the House will result in new committee leaders in the chamber. Construction industry officials say that under those new chairmen, House panels will be focused on curbing spending and holding oversight hearings on the Obama administration’s implementation of federal laws and programs like the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Although the Republican Steering Committee has not yet announced its roster of committee chairman, several current ranking members are expected to take the helm of their panels. For example, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), is expected to assume the chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee. Lewis previously chaired
California and Florida together have won nearly 70% of the $2.5 billion for high-speed rail that the U.S. Dept. of Transportation's awarded in its second round of funds for the new program. Related Links: DOT Sketches Plan For High-Speed Rail 'Excited' High-Speed Rail Builders Get Ready The awards, which DOT announced on Oct. 28, would help fund 54 projects in 23 states. The latest awards follow an initial, $8 billion in DOT high-speed-rail aid, whose winners were selected in January. The first-round money came from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. For the newly announced grants, DOT received 132
A trade squabble has broken out between the U.S. and China over government assistance for solar and wind power and other “green” technologies. The U.S. made the first move with the Oct. 15 announcement by U.S. Trade Rep. Ron Kirk that his office is launching an investigation into whether China engaged in unfair practices regarding its support to renewable-energy programs. Kirk’s action, under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, came in response to a petition filed by the United Steelworkers (USW) union on Sept. 9. The USW contends that China has carried out a range of actions that run
What’s ahead for TIGER grants? With its latest round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant awards, announced on Oct. 20, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation brought good news to state and local agencies that won funds for 75 projects. But DOT disappointed dozens of other agencies whose proposals failed to make the cut. Photo: Courtesey Ned Ahrens, King County Department of Transportation Replacement for Seattle’s 81-year-old South Park Bridge won a $34-million TIGER grant. There is support in Congress to continue the discretionary TIGER grants, which are aimed at projects that will have major national or regional benefits. But