Related Links: Text of Senate VA bill (See Section 402 for construction commission language) Senate Appropriations Committee report on FY15 VA spending bill The Senate has approved a bill that would make significant changes at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, including a new commission to examine VA’s construction projects and programs.The Senate’s measure, which the chamber passed on June 11 by an overwhelming 93-3 vote, next must be reconciled with a VA bill the House cleared a day earlier on a 426-0 vote.The House bill calls for a broad assessment of VA’s medical system but does not specify actions related

Related Links: Sen. Rand Paul discusses repatriation/Highway Trust Fund proposal on CNBC (YouTube) Sens. Wyden, Hatch comment on foreign-income repatriation proposal As the Highway Trust Fund's financial health nears a critical point, construction industry executives and state transportation officials are nervously watching what Congress will do. The trust fund's highway account is projected to tip over into the red within weeks. If new revenue isn't found, the flow of funds will slow and projects may be put on hold.Shortly before signing a new water-resources bill on June 10, President Obama weighed in on the unfinished infrastructure business, saying, "We need

Related Links: Webcast, prepared statements, from Senate committee 6/4/2014 hearing NRC status of implementation of post-Fukushima task force's recommendations Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) wants the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to move to implement a NRC task force's safety recommendations for U.S. reactors in the wake of the March 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi accident in Japan.Boxer said at a June 4 committee hearing that it was "scandalous" that none of the 12 recommendations the task force issued in July 2011 had been carried out yet at U.S. nuclear powerplants.She said NRC has completed its actions on four

Related Links: Section-by-section summary of Sanders-McCain VA Bill Text of Sanders-McCain VA Bill A bipartisan Senate bill to revamp the Dept. of Veterans Affairs would establish a panel to review and recommend improvements in the VA's construction program. The bill, introduced on June 9, results from a deal between Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).For the construction industry, the package's key item is a 13-member commission to examine VA construction, which "has been an ongoing problem" with the department, Sanders said.The bill directs the panel to review current VA medical-facility construction projects and

Related Links: Bureau of Labor statistics release, with data tables AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's comments, analysis ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu's comments, analysis Construction industry’s jobless rate continues to decline, dipping to 8.6% in May from 9.4% the previous month, as the industry added 6,000 jobs.The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics latest employment report, released on June 6, also showed that construction’s jobless rate last month improved from its May 2013 level of 10.8%.Moreover, last month’s rate was the best May since 2008, when it also was 8.6%.
The BLS rates are not adjusted for seasonal variations.The industry’s jobs results

Related Links: Text of WRRDA conference report (see Sections 5021-5035 for WIFIA) New Water-Resources Bill Sails Toward Enactment (ENR 6/2/2014 issue) [subscription] One reason why construction and finance industry officials are eager to see President Obama sign the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) is that it includes a new way to help narrow the infrastructure funding gap. The Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program (WIFIA) will provide federal loans and loan guarantees for Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency projects.WIFIA's impact is likely to be much more modest than its model, the Dept. of Transportation's

Photo courtesy of AGC of America Workers get a briefing on fall-protection equipment during a safety "stand-down" at a Washington, D.C., job site. Related Links: OSHA safety 'stand-down' Web page The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and construction industry and union groups are teaming up to raise awareness about jobsite protection against falls from height, the leading cause of construction fatalities.OSHA has launched a program of “Safety Stand-Downs,” to take place during the week of June 2-6, in which companies halt work on projects around the U.S., to get briefings and reminders about proper equipment and jobsite steps recommended

Related Links: Text of design-build amendmend added to House DOD bill Text of individual-sureties amendment added to House DOD bill A House-passed Defense Dept. authorization bill has two provisions that would alter federal construction contracting policies.The bill, which the House cleared May 22, includes an amendment that aims to ensure design-build shortlists are short. It requires two-step procurement for federal DB contracts of $1 million or more. Groups including the Design-Build Institute of America and American Institute of Architects backed the provision. They say one-step DB leads to long shortlists, requiring teams to prepare costly proposals while facing long odds

Photo Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bill calls for hikes In Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund spending on port dredging. Related Links: Text of WRRDA House-Senate conference report Industry Officials Hail House-Senate Deal on New Water-Resources Bill (enr.com 5/13/2014) [subcription] The first major water-resources bill in more than six years is heading to President Obama's desk. The $12.3-billion Water Resources Reform and Development Act authorizes nearly three dozen new Army Corps of Engineers projects, directs the agency to speed up its feasibility studies and provides new revenue sources for dredging, flood control and other water projects.WRRDA focuses on the Corps,

Photo by Billy Birdwell/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District Among projects authorized in the new WRRDA is Savannah Harbor expansion, including dredging to deepen the entrance channel and inner harbor. Related Links: Text of WRRDA conference report House Transportation and Infrastructure summary of final WRRDA Senate Environment and Public Works Committee summary of legislation The Senate overwhelmingly has approved a major new water-resources measure that would authorize more than $12 billion in new Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects, launch a new federal loan program for Corps and Environmental Protection Agency projects and mandate faster Corps project reviews.The