Related Links: Obama, House GOP Skirmish Over Fiscal 2014 Spending Bills (ENR 6/17/13) Summary of Senate Appropriations Committee-approved FY14 DOT-HUD bill Summary of House Appropriations Committee FY14 DOT-HUD bill (excluding committee-approved amendments) As congressional appropriators move ahead on fiscal year 2014 spending bills, some major construction programs, such as highways, are faring reasonably well given the tight budget environment, but others could face cuts.Framing the appropriations action is a wide gap between House and Senate ceilings on overall FY 14 discretionary spending. The Senate cap is $1.058 trillion; the House's is $967 billion. In light of that spread, House appropriators

Related Links: Link to June 27 Senate subcommittee hearing Contractor Sues Fluor Team over DOE Site Project Design (subscribers only) A June 27 Senate subcommittee hearing spotlighted the difficulties with contracts for nuclear-waste cleanup under the Energy Dept.'s Office of Environmental Management (EM).Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight, highlighted the problems at legacy sites, saying, "Unfortunately for the taxpayer, for EM's large contracts, cost overruns, schedule delays and technical failures are the rule, not the exception." For example, the cost of the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) at the Savannah River site, near

Related Links: Supreme Court Decision in Koontz v. St. Johns River Water Management District Supreme Court Order Granting Certiorari in NLRB and EPA cases The U.S. Supreme Court handed down the last decisions of its October 2012 term on June 26, issuing rulings in closely watched affirmative-action and same-sex-marriage cases. But perhaps more significant for the construction and engineering industry are the cases the court agreed to hear in its next term.The first, National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning, could have significant ramifications in the way presidential recess appointments are made.The second, Environmental Protection Agency v. EME Homer City

Related Links: Senate Committee Clears Foxx for Top DOT Post (enr.com 6/11/13) Obama Picks Charlotte, N.C., Mayor to Head DOT (enr.com 4/29/13) As Anthony Foxx moves into his new job as head of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, he will face tough infrastructure issues. Leading the list for Foxx—who was confirmed 100-0 by the Senate on June 27 and sworn in as DOT secretary on July 2—will be addressing the ailing Highway Trust Fund.The trust fund is the prime financing source for major highways and an important revenue stream for transit projects. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the

Photo By Associated Press Key Players Schumer (center), with other members of the Senate "Gang of Eight" who pushed for the bill, called the vote "a giant step forward." Related Links: Text of Senate-passed immigration bill Bipartisan Group of Senators Outlines Plans for Immigration Reform (enr.com 1/28/13) With the Senate's passage of a wide-ranging immigration bill, the legislative focus moves to the House. In contrast to the Senate's comprehensive measure, approved on June 27 by a 68-32 vote, GOP House leaders are going piece by piece, moving bills on various immigration issues through committees.Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), one of the

Courtesy California Expo Rail Authority Concrete is placed on a bridge deck last month for the light rail line expansion to Santa Monica. A Los Angeles light rail line being expanded by Skanska USA faces a court challenge that could shut down work.The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hand down a decision by Aug.7 in a challenge by local residents to Phase II of the Los Angeles Exposition Rail line, now under construction through the city’s west side and due to start operating in 2015.The main issue is whether a construction authority has the discretion to use existing or

Related Links: Pritzker picked for Commerce Dept., Froman for USTR (enr.com 5/2/03) Obama National Export Initiative The Senate has confirmed Penny S. Pritzker, a prominent businesswoman and major fund-raiser for President Obama, to lead the Dept. of Commerce. Pritzker’s nomination was approved on June 25, by a 97-1 tally, with Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) casting the lone “no” vote.Pritzker, who was sworn in to her new post on June 26, will lead a sprawling department of more than 40,000 workers. Among its wide range of agencies are the International Trade Administration, which sponsors overseas trade missions for U.S. companies in

Related Links: Senate Committee Clears Foxx for Top DOT Post (enr.com 6/11/13) Obama Selects Charlotte Mayor for Top DOT Post (ENR 5/6/13 issue) The Senate has approved President Obama’s nominee to head the Dept. of Transportation, Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Foxx, to be the next DOT Secretary. Foxx was confirmed for the top DOT post on June 27 by a 100-0 vote. He will succeed Ray LaHood, who has led DOT since January 2009. Many tough issues lie ahead for Foxx as he moves into his new job.  The top construction industry priority will be addressing the flagging financial health of the

Photo courtesy of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Froman, sworn in as USTR by Supreme Court Justice Kagan, faces new trade talks with the EU and ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. Related Links: Pritzker Picked for Commerce Dept., Froman for USTR (enr.com 5/2/13) Froman's confirmation hearing (Webcast, prepared statements) Senate Finance Committee 6/6/13 As former White House aide Michael Froman begins his new job as U.S. trade representative, he faces a full agenda, including two major multilateral trade negotiations that will have an impact on U.S. construction-equipment makers and companies in a wide range of other industries.Froman, who was

Related Links: Supreme Court June 24 Order on NLRB v. Noel Canning Link to U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Jan. 25 decision in Noel Canning v. NLRB The U.S. Supreme Court on June 24 said it would review a case during its next term that could have a significant impact on the way presidential recess appointments are made.A broad decision by the court in the case, National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning, could limit a president’s ability to put a  personal stamp on the board, other federal agencies and federal courts.  The high court is nearing