The U.S. Trade Representative is launching a investigation of whether China engaged in unfair practices regarding solar and wind power and other "green" technologies. KIRK The action, announced by USTR Ron Kirk on Oct. 15, comes 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 counter to World Trade Organization policies. The U.S. is taking the action under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act. Kirk said that green technologies are "a vitally important sector for the United States." He
President Obama continues to stump for transportation infrastructure. In remarks on Oct. 11, he repeated his call for higher federal spending to rebuild highways, rails and airport runways. Construction officials welcome Obama’s attention to public works, though they still seek more details, including how much total spending he wants. But the White House is not likely to provide many specifics before 2011, when a new Congress convenes. Photo: AP/WideWorld Obama, with current and former Cabinet officials, governors and a mayor, calls for increased transportation infrastructure spending. Obama said, “Our infrastructure is woefully inefficient, and it is outdated.” Noting that the
The House has approved the “Cash for Caulkers” bill, which seeks to stimulate construction and manufacturing jobs and boost energy efficiency in homes. The two-year, $5.6-billion Home Star Energy Retrofit Act, which the House passed on May 6, would provide up to $3,000 in rebates to homeowners who install insulation or energy-efficient windows, doors and other products. The Senate has not acted yet on the measure. The bill’s supporters include the National Association of Home Builders, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, labor unions and environmental groups. But 154 Republicans voted against the legislation. The Associated Builders and Contractors also opposes
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has proposed changes to its requirements for disadvantaged-business enterprises (DBEs), which include firms owned by women and minorities. DOT’s longstanding goal is to have at least 10% of highway and other construction funds go to DBEs. DOT says its plan, published in the Federal Register on May 10, would make it easier for a firm to be certified a DBE in more than one state. The proposal aims to make state agencies more accountable by requiring those that do not meet DBE targets to examine why that happened and come up with ways to achieve
As they start work on a new Water Resources Development Act, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee leaders have asked colleagues to submit by May 18 Corps of Engineers projects to be included in the bill. House Republicans have taken a no-earmark pledge, which includes WRDA. But the Senate panel’s top GOP member, James Inhofe (Okla.), supports including projects in authorization bills, such as WRDA.
As a flurry of new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act updates makes clear, opportunities for construction firms seeking to win ARRA-funded work are waning. Some agencies, such as the General Services Administration, still have substantial stimulus work to award, but in sectors such as highways, the funding window is nearly closed. Source:House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, DOE, National Park Service.. ARRA Progress Reports Ken Simonson, the Associated General Contractors’ chief economist, says, “It appears that there is now more stimulus-funded construction activity in more sectors of the industry than at any point since last February. … The bad news is
President Obama has repeated his call for higher federal spending on infrastructure, stating that U.S funding has fallen behind levels in China, Russia and other countries and declaring, "We can no longer afford to sit still." Related Links: Full text of President Obama's remarks U.S. Treasury Dept. Economic Infrastructure Analysis In the latest in a series of statements pushing public-works spending, Obama said on Oct. 11, that "our infrastructure is woefully inefficient and it is outdated." His Rose Garden comments were accompanied by the release of a Treasury Dept.-Council of Economic Advisers report outlining the benefits of higher public-works funding.
Construction's unemployment rate edged upward in September, to 17.2% from August's 17.0%, as the industry lost 21,000 jobs last month. Related Links: U.S. Dept. of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics release The Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest monthly employment report, released on Oct. 8, also showed that construction's unemployment rate last month was slightly worse than the September 2009 rate of 17.1%. Construction's jobless rate this year has generally improved month-to-month since February, before worsening in September. But looking at the numbers from another angle, the industry's 2010 unemployment rates have been higher than the comparable 2009 figures in every
A series of fierce contests for federal transportation dollars is starting to reshape how funds for rail, transit and other projects are distributed. So far this year, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded nearly $10.6 billion successful bidders and is expected to announce soon winners of $2.9 billion more in funding. Cash-strapped state and local agencies are seeking far more aid than DOT has available. Congress set criteria for some of the grants, but DOT decides who wins—to some observers, that’s the rub. Industry officials wonder whether DOT will seek to expand the use of such “discretionary” grants. Key
Marking the New Madrid earthquake’s 200th anniversary, officials are planning two big preparedness exercises. On Sept. 30, James M. Wilkinson, executive director of the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium, Memphis, told a Senate hearing his group will hold the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut on April 28. Then, in May, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will simulate and study a quake in the New Madrid zone.
