President Obama has made his first selection for the U.S. Supreme Court in federal appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Observers now are studying decisions she handed down in more than 25 years on the federal bench, seeking evidence about her views on key issues. Michael Kennedy, the Associated General Contractors’ general counsel, says Sotomayor’s construction-related decisions “track relatively closely” with those of Justice David Souter, whom she is being nominated to replace. Thus, Kennedy sees “little to indicate at this point that her confirmation would significantly alter the court’s disposition toward the construction industry.” Labor unions and environmental groups like Obama’s
When Congress returns from its Memorial Day break, House and Senate negotiators will begin to reconcile bills to provide tens of billions of dollars for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Much of the public focus is on provisions dealing with prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But each measure also includes about $4 billion for construction, though the funding mix differs. The $96.9-billion House bill, passed 368-60 on May 14, would provide $3.2 billion for Dept. of Defense construction, including about $1.1 billion for hospitals. Appropriators didn’t specify which hospital projects should be funded but directed DOD to submit a spending
The Senate confirmed a batch of nominees for top federal positions, including officials to fill several key posts at the Dept. of Transportation and a new head for the Interior Dept.'s Bureau of Reclamation. Those confirmed on May 21, just before the start of the Memorial Day recess, include former Maryland Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari, who was approved to be deputy secretary of U.S. DOT. Porcari served two terms as head of Maryland DOT, both times under Democratic governors--from 1999 to 2003 and from 2007 until he is sworn in to his new federal job. Peter M. Rogoff, a
The House has approved a $53.5-billion measure to fund Federal Aviation Administration programs for the next three years, including an increase for airport construction grants and a hike in airport passenger facility charges (PFCs), which finance infrastructure work. But prospects for final congressional approval rest with the Senate, where a multi-year FAA bill has yet to emerge. Photo: Aileen Cho for ENR Funding levels are uncertain for airports, like this one, now completed, in North Carolina. The last multi-year FAA measure lapsed last Sept. 30. But with a successor bill bogged down in the Senate, FAA programs have been operating
The Senate has confirmed Ines R. Triay, a long-time Dept. of Energy environmental official, to be the department's assistant secretary for environmental management. In that post, Triay will be in charge of the department's massive effort to clean up former nuclear-weapons facilities at more than 100 sites across the country. TRIAY Triay, whom the Senate approved on May 20, has spent 24 years working in DOE environmental programs, rising in 2007 to be principal deputy assistant secretary for "EM," the program's senior career post. Last November, she was named acting assistant secretary. One of her challenges will be to manage
The Obama administration is winning cheers from labor unions for proposals to increase spending and staffing at the Labor Dept. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis says the department will toughen enforcement of labor laws and is requesting funds in fiscal year 2010 to add 670 investigators, inspectors and other staff. Speaking on May 18 before a friendly audience at the AFL-CIO’s Building and Construction Trades Dept. legislative conference, Solis said the administration believes the government has a fundamental responsibility to protect workers from unsafe workplaces and “unjust” labor practices. “You better believe there’s a new sheriff in town,” she said. Solis
In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s first 77 days on the books, only $28.5 billion of the law’s $787.2-billion total has turned into actual outlays. Few of those hard dollars have flowed into construction programs. ARRA outlays by the Dept. of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency and General Services Administration for buildings totaled only $42.5 million as of May 12. Sources: Congressional Budget Office, Office of The Vice President, Quarterly Report On ARRA The Obama administration’s first quarterly report on the economic stimulus, released on May 13, says obligations—binding spending agreements—totaled more than $88 billion as of May 5, which
Schools and defense were on the agenda on Capitol Hill this week, with the final spending levels far from settled. The House passed a bill on May 14 that would authorize $6.4 billion for green school renovation and modernization projects for fiscal 2010. The bill passed 275-155, largely along party lines. The bill stipulates that funds be used for projects that meet green building standards or equivalent state or local standards. The bill also requires that in 2015—the final year of funding—districts use 100% of the funds they receive for green projects. One of the bill’s key sponsors, Rep. George
The Dept. of Housing and Urban Development has announced plans for $995 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act discretionary grants to upgrade public housing units and the National Science Foundation is seeking applicants for $200 million in ARRA aid to rehabilitate academic research facilities at colleges and universities. Related Links: HUD's Notice of Funding Availability HUD on May 11 said it will award a total $995 billion in ARRA Public Housing Capital Funds in four categories: $600 million for energy-efficiency improvements; $200 million for projects delayed for lack of funding; $100 millin to "transform" old public housing projects through
With President Obama’s May 7 release of his detailed budget proposal for the coming fiscal year, the tussle over 2010 federal funding will intensify. Taking a tougher line on spending, Obama highlighted a plan to terminate or trim 121 programs, aiming to save $16.7 billion. Cuts would include about $1.5 billion from construction accounts. The Democratic Congress is likely to defer to Obama’s first budget request, but only to a degree. Lawmakers are not expected to rubber-stamp every line. Photo: AP/Wideworld OMB Director Orszag and Obama spell out cuts in some federal programs. Jeffrey D. Shoaf, Associated General Contractors’ senior
