In a clear sign of construction's persistently severe problems, the industry's jobless rate hit its highest level in at least a decade, climbing to 22.7% in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported. The latest BLS monthly employment figures, released Jan. 8, show that construction's December jobless rate rose from November's 19.4%, and also was well above the December 2008 mark of 15.3%. Moreover, construction's 22.7% rate is the industry's highest since 2000, when BLS changed its system for classifying and defining industries, a bureau spokesperson says. Construction's previous post-2000 high came in February 2009, when the industry's jobless
The construction industry is divided over the landmark health care bill approved by the Senate on Dec. 24, primarily because of a provision that would require small construction industry employers to provide health insurance to employees. Employer groups like the Associated General Contractors and the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) say the measure would stifle growth and make it harder for small businesses to survive, particularly during difficult economic times. Labor unions, on the other hand, say the provision, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), fixes a loophole that would have exempted most of the construction industry—largely made up of
If the final version of the health care reform bill must resemble more closely what was passed by the Senate, as lawmakers on Capitol Hill say, the House's public option is probably out but the fate of the Senate's special provision targeting construction remains uncertain. Some contractor groups whose workers tend to be unionized are supporting the Senate's special construction industry amendment. After the Senate's approval of a measure that aims to make broad changes in the U.S. health-care system, the focus will turn to negotiations to reconcile the newly passed Senate bill with the version the House cleared in
As Congress headed for its year-end recess, the House delivered encouraging news to the construction industry, approving a jobs-producing, $154-billion economic-stimulus measure that includes about $47 billion for infrastructure work in several market sectors. The bill, approved on Dec. 16 by a slim 217-212 margin, would be a follow-on to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. But the Senate, enmeshed in protracted action on major health-care legislation, will not even take up a jobs bill until it returns in January from its break. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan (N.D.) are gathering
Two compromise Senate climate-change proposals have been floated in hopes of finding enough support to win a floor vote. In November, the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee cleared a climate bill but got no GOP votes. Trying a new approach, John Kerry (D-Mass.), Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Dec. 10 released a “basic framework for climate action” that said an emissions cap of about 17% less than 2005 levels “is achievable and reasonable.” EPW’s bill has a 20% cut. The Senate trio also want to encourage nuclear powerplant construction and boost U.S. oil and gas production.
More than 10 weeks into fiscal 2010, funding numbers for the year finally have fallen into place for several key federal construction programs. A Senate vote on Dec. 13 gave final congressional approval to a huge, $446.8-billion spending package that includes six individual appropriations bills for 2010, including transportation and military construction. Results for construction accounts were mixed. Highways, transit, General Services Administration new construction and Dept. of Veterans Affairs programs all won increases, but there were deep cuts in prisons and GSA renovations. Federal-aid highways received a 2.5% boost, thanks to a small hike in the trust-fund-financed obligation limit
Airport construction grants and other Federal Aviation Administration programs will keep running through March, thanks to a newly approved three-month extension. Final congressional action came on Dec. 10, with Senate passage. The bill is the latest in a series of extensions since September 2007, when the last multiyear FAA bill lapsed. The House did pass a three-year measure in May. In the Senate, a two-year bill cleared committee in July but is stalled.
Providing more potential work for construction’s buildings sector, the Dept. of Health and Human Services on Dec. 9 announced $508.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act aid to build or renovate 85 community health centers. Competition was stiff: HHS received about 600 applications for the ARRA funds, says David Bowman, a spokesman for HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration. The maximum award was $12 million, for three projects in Massachusetts and one each in California, New York and Washington, D.C. An earlier round of HHS economic-stimulus funds, announced in June, included $539.8 million for smaller health-center projects. Contracts for
Congress has approved the latest in a series of extensions to allow Federal Aviation Administration programs, including its Airport Improvement Program (AIP) construction grants, to continue operating. The new stopgap runs through March 31. Final congressional action came on Dec. 10, with passage by the Senate. The House had approved the measure two days earlier. The bill next goes to the White House, for President Obama's expected signature. The measure would succeed the current stopgap, which expires Dec. 31. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) notes that the extension includes $2 billion in contract authority for AIP,
The Dept. of Health and Human Services has awarded $508.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to build or renovate 85 community health clinics around the country. Competition was stiff for the Facility Investment Program grants, whose winners were announced on Dec. 9. HHS received about 600 applications for the funds, says David Bowman, a spokesman for HHS's Health Resources and Services Administration, which oversees the community health center program. Bowman says that the latest batch of ARRA awards involves larger awards than those contained in a round of HHS stimulus capital funding announced in June. That earlier
