Related Links: Text of FAA bill ACI-NA statement Congress has approved legislation to give the Federal Aviation Administration more funding flexibility to let it cancel furloughs of air traffic controllers but airport groups are unhappy that the bill lets FAA shift money from airport construction aid to pay the increased personnel costs.The Senate passed the FAA bill on April 25—the same day it was introduced—and the House cleared it April 26. The bill next goes to the White House for President Obama’s expected signature.The rapid, bipartisan congressional action was sparked when FAA furloughs started on April 21 and flight delays

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

Related Links: Bureau of Labor Statistics employment report for March 2013 Associated General Contractors analysis Associated Builders and Contractors analysis The construction jobs picture continued to improve in March, as the industry added 18,000 jobs and its unemployment rate declined, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported. But the job gains were not as strong as in February.   The BLS monthly report, released on April 5, said construction’s March unemployment rate fell to 14.7%, from February’s 15.7%.   Last month’s rate also was better than the March 2012 level of 17.2% and was the lowest March figure since 2008.

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

File photo courtesy U.S. Bureau of Reclamation New document covers more agencies than previous version. BuRec programs still covered. Related Links: New Principles and Guidelines (Via White House) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1983 Principles and Guidelines After years of discussion and drafting, the White House has issued revised standards for evaluating federally funded water projects. Announced by the Council on Environmental Quality on March 22, the new Principles and Guidelines, or P&G, are the first rewrite of this key planning document in 30 years.The new P&G give more prominence to environmental factors than did the 1983 version and add

Photo Courtesy of the White House/Pete Souza President Obama visited the PortMiami tunnel project and called for increased infrastructure funding from public and private sources. Related Links: Transcript of Obama 3/29/13 remarks in Miami WRDA Bill Clears Senate Committee (ENR 4/1/13 issue) President Obama paid a March 29 visit to PortMiami—the site of a $1-billion tunnel project financed partly by private funding—and promoted ways of increasing both public and private funding for infrastructure."There are few more important things that we can do to create jobs right now and strengthen our economy over the long haul than rebuilding the infrastructure that

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

Related Links: Senate Spending Bill Would Restore Highway Funds (ENR.com 3/12/13) Budget Battle Heats Up on Capitol Hill (ENR 3/25/13 issue) Congress has cleared a six-month continuing resolution (CR) to keep federal agencies, including construction programs, operating through Sept. 30, when fiscal 2013 ends.The CR, which President Obama signed March 26, includes sequestration cuts, which affect many construction accounts. But the bill adds nearly $700 million to highway and transit programs, setting them at 2012 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act levels.The House and Senate also have passed budget resolutions for fiscal 2014 that differ greatly. The

Related Links: Obama Feb. 6 remarks announcing intent to nominate Jewell Archived webcast of committee vote The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has cleared the nomination of Sally Jewell, President Obama's pick to succeed Ken Salazar as Interior secretary.The panel approved Jewell on March 21 by a 9-3 vote. Jewell's nomination now goes to the full Senate.Critics say the former Recreational Equipment Inc. CEO lacks the experience needed to lead the Interior, but environmental groups support her nomination.