White House photo by Chuck Kennedy Obama signs directive boosting base wage for contracts with solicitations published starting on Jan. 1, 2015. Further annual increases begin in 2016, to reflect inflation. Related Links: Text of executive order Federal Construction Minimum Wage Hike Impact May Be Small (ENR blog 1/28/2014) President Obama has signed an executive order that boosts the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour for federal contractors in the construction and services industries starting in 2015, with further annual increases for inflation, beginning on Jan. 1, 2016. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.Construction industry officials and
Only days before the U.S. State Dept. released its long-awaited environmental review of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, the company applying to build it, TransCanada Corp., experienced its third major pipeline rupture since October.
Photo courtesy of Tanzania Presidential Library President Obama discusses new 'Power Africa' initiative at the Symbion powerplant in Tanzania Related Links: White House Fact Sheet A new technical and financial support program announced by President Obama during a recent trip to South Africa will enable six sub-Saharan countries to generate an additional 10,000 megawatts of renewable power.The $7-billion Power Africa initiative will support, in its first phase over the next five years, renewable-energy projects in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Liberia, Ethiopia and Nigeria.In addition, private renewable-energy developers will invest $9 billion for generation of another 8,000 MW over the same period
Related Links: House Appropriations Committee summary of milcon/VA bill (excluding floor amendments) White House budget office statement on milcon/VA bill Boehner's June 6 letter to Obama A battle is brewing between President Obama and House Republicans over 2014 appropriations. The White House issued veto threats for the first two House-passed 2014 spending bills—for Dept. of Defense (DOD) construction-Veterans Affairs and the Dept. of Homeland Security—and any other 2014 appropriations bills that track the budget resolution the House approved in March.In response, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) wrote Obama, saying the president was taking a "reckless" approach and was threatening to
Photo AP Wideworld Obama released his budget almost two months later than usual. Congressional wrangling will likely delay final approval. Related Links: 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. However, airport grants and wastewater-treatment facility aid would be cut.The proposal's fate will depend on congressional
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
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
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
Environmental organizations and the oil-and-gas industry say one of the first litmus tests for President Obama's second term is his highly anticipated decision over a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.
