Related Links: Bureau of Labor Statistics release and data tables Statement and analysis from AGC's Ken Simonson Statement and analysis from ABC's Anirban Basu Construction’s unemployment rate rose in February to 12.8% from January’s 12.3%, but the industry continued to add jobs, picking up 15,000 in the month.The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest monthly employment report, released on March 7, also showed that construction’s jobless rate improved markedly from its February 2013 level of 15.7%.Last month’s rate was the industry’s lowest February figure since 2008.The BLS unemployment rates for construction and other individual industries are not adjusted for seasonal

Related Links: White House fact sheet on transportation proposal Obama Feb. 26 speech on transportation proposal (White House transcript) House Ways and Means release on Camp's tax-reform proposal (links to draft text, summary, cost estimate) President Obama has plunged into the suddenly hotter discussion over a new surface-transportation bill, unveiling the outline of a proposed $302-billion, four-year highway-transit reauthorization measure.Obama’s plan, announced on Feb. 26, came about two hours after House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) released his proposal to provide a $126.5-billion, eight-year infusion to the ailing Highway Trust Fund.Construction and transportation industry officials welcomed the

Photo Courtesy of Office of Sen. Ron Wyden The Oregon Democrat was a prime architect of the 2009-10 Build America Bonds program. Wyden also has proposed various types of tax-credit bonds for infrastructure. Related Links: Boxer Seeks To Unveil New Transportation Bill in April (enr.com 2/18/2014) In State of the Union, Obama Urges Quick Hill Action on Infrastructure Bills (enr.com 1/29/2014) Wyden Calls for DOE Review of Contractor Handling of Whistleblowers As the debate over a new highway-transit bill heats up, construction and transportation officials are keeping a keen eye on Sen. Ron Wyden (D), the Finance Committee's new chairman.

Photo by Ian Wagreich, Copyright U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foxx told transportation conference he also advocates reducing project costs, through steps such as having federal agencies "harmonize" their project reviews. Related Links: Prepared text of Foxx's speech before U.S. Chamber of Commerce conference Boxer Seeks to Unveil New Transportation Bill in April (enr.com 2/18/2014) [subscription] Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is taking an ambitious approach to the next surface-transportation bill, due later this year, saying that “a one- or two-year Band-Aid won’t cut it this time.”In a Feb. 20 speech kicking off a day-long U.S. Chamber of Commerce transportation conference in

Courtesy of Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Leaders from U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO, AASHTO, ARTBA, National Association of Manufacturers (left to right) testify about need for new transportation bill. Related Links: Link to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing Webcast, prepared testimony Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) says she is aiming to have a new, multi-year surface-transportation bill ready for a vote by her panel in April.But because the Boxer committee’s jurisdiction is limited to highway policy, it will be up to the Finance Committee to tackle the most critical issue for

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

Photo by AP Wideworld Joe Oliver, Canada's natural-resource minister, said he was "encouraged" by State Dept.'s EIS. Related Links: State Dept. Information on Keystone XL EIS EPA Says Ketystone Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Insufficient The State Dept. has issued a final environmental impact statement on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that determines the project probably would not have a major effect on carbon emissions during its construction period.The EIS, which the State Dept. released on Jan. 31, is not the final up-or-down ruling on whether the project can be constructed. Still to come is an Obama administration decision on

Related Links: House GOP Taking Immigration Bill 'Step by Step' (enr.com 7/16/2013) [subscription] Immigration Bill Focus Shifts to House After Senate Vote (ENR 7/8/2013 issue) [subscription] Construction contractor groups welcomed House Republicans' newly unveiled principles for developing immigration legislation—an important issue for construction companies and workers—but organized labor sharply criticized the GOP outline.The set of six principles, released on Jan. 30 at a House Republican retreat in Cambridge, Md., would allow children of illegal immigrants “an opportunity for legal residence and citizenship,” but make clear that the party would not include a “path to citizenship” for those who entered the

White House photo by Amanda Lucidon In his speech before a joint session of Congress, Obama also said he would issue a directive hiking minimum wage for federal construction contractors' workers. Related Links: Video of Obama State of the Union address (via White House) Federal Construction Minimum Wage Hike Impact May Be Small (enr.com blog 1/28/2014) House Chairman Shuster's statement/reaction In his State of the Union address, President Obama called on Congress to move rapidly this year on major infrastructure legislation and pledged to issue a directive to raise the minimum wage for employees of federal contractors in construction and

Related Links: Dept. of Justice press release The Dept. of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Kellogg, Brown & Root Services and two Kuwait-based companies, charging that they filed false claims and engaged in kickbacks related to a U.S. Army contract in Iraq a decade ago.DOJ announced on Jan. 23 that it filed the complaint in U.S. District Court in Rock Island, Ill. The government alleged that in 2003 and 2004, Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR) workers took kickbacks related to subcontracts that company had awarded to the two Kuwaiti firms—La Nouvelle General Trading & Contracting Co. and First Kuwaiti