Labor unions are cheering three labor-related executive orders issued by President Barack Obama on Jan. 30, saying they are illustrative of a new pro-labor mind-set in the White House. But employer groups are wary and warn that potential legal action may follow if the President makes good on a promise to issue a fourth order related to project labor agreements, expected as early as the week of Feb. 2. One order reverses a directive by former President Bush that required employers to post notices informing workers of their rights not to join or support a union; a second order prohibits

The American Society of Civil Engineers has issued its third report card on the state of the nation’s infrastructure. The “poor” status reported in 2001 and 2005 is unchanged, while the five-year, $2.2-trillion investment needed to correct it has increased by half a trillion dollars since 2005. The ASCE released its 2009 Report Card for Infrastructure two months earlier than planned, hoping to influence the national discussion over infrastructure funding now taking place in Washington, D.C., officials from the group said. The report card, which gives the nation’s infrastructure an overall grade of “D,” or “Poor,” synopsizes the findings of

The Senate has moved quickly, in most cases, to approve President Barack Obama’s nominees to Cabinet posts, including his choices to lead departments that oversee major construction programs, such as transportation and energy. Industry officials now will focus on whom Obama will pick for sub-Cabinet positions, including deputy and assistant secretaries. Photo: AP/Wideworld Confirmation has come quickly for most nominees. Among a group of nominees confirmed on Jan. 22 was former Illinois congressman Ray LaHood, a Republican, as transportation secretary. LaHood was approved the day after his confirmation hearing before the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. During the hearing, LaHood

Along-awaited economic stimulus bill continues to advance on Capitol Hill as Democrats push to meet their goal of having a final measure on President Barack Obama’s desk by about Feb. 16. But Senate Republicans continue to criticize the packages as being too big and contend that not enough of the money will turn into programs or projects that create jobs in the next year to two years. Still, the GOP may not have the votes to derail the packages. Photo: AP/Wideworld Sen. Thad Cochran (seated) confers with Senate colleague last year. Todd Hauptli, American Association of Airport Executives’ senior executive

The reconstituted committee charged with developing the nation’s first green building standard met for the first time on Jan. 27 in Chicago at the winter meeting of the standard’s lead developer, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers Inc. The two-year-old committee stopped work in the fall after ASHRAE decided the panel needed broader industry representation. The new Standard 189 committee has 34 voting members, up from 21. The committee includes more representation from owners, the steel sector and construction, said Kent Peterson, chief engineer of P2S Engineering, Long Beach, Calif., and the panel’s new chair. Panel

Industry groups are offering modest praise for the funds allocated for water infrastructure in the $825-billion economic stimulus package, saying the funding levels are a good start. “It’s a huge increase over what’s been appropriated in the past,” says Karen Lapsovic, director of tax, fiscal affairs and infrastructure finance at the Associated General Contractors. But the same industry groups are quick to point out that much more is needed to even to begin to fix the nation’s ailing water infrastructure. Related Links: Proposal in House Fires Up Debate Does Massive Spending Help or Hurt in Long Run? Modest Program Favors

In his Jan. 20 inaugural address, President Barack Obama focused on broad themes, asking his vast audience to �begin again the work of remaking America.� He said the economy needs �action, bold and swift� and then got more specific, talking about building �roads and bridges and electric grids.� That phrase no doubt grabbed the attention of recession-wounded construction officials who hope that their immediate priority, an infrastructure-oriented economic stimulus bill, also will rise to the front of the new President�s agenda. Photo: AP/Wideworld Obama called for �action, bold and swift� to aid economy, citing roads, bridges. Photo: AP/Wideworld Pelosi calls

The $825-billion economic stimulus proposal that House Democrats unveiled on Jan. 15 provides the first firm numbers for construction industry executives who for months have been searching anxiously for hints about the plan. Infrastructure advocates panned the proposal as far short of what is needed. Pelosi says “this is the first step.” But with House of Representatives committee and floor votes and Senate action still to come, the package is far from the last word on the stimulus. As drafted, the plan would have a major impact on construction. By ENR’s calculation, the package has about $135 billion in construction

Steven Chu, Nobel laureate and head of the Lawrence Berkeley national laboratory, appears headed for fast Senate approval as energy secretary. At a Jan. 13 hearing, Senate energy committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) said he backs Chu. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) expects Chu to be approved. Chu said he’s committed to defense-site cleanup and that it “makes good sense” to have cleanup aid in a stimulus bill.

Senators from both parties showed enthusiastic support for Rep. Hilda Solis, President-elect Obama’s choice to be Labor Secretary, at the California Democrat’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Jan. 9. Although committee Republicans said they might disagree with Solis on key issues, such as the scope of the Davis-Bacon Act, several signaled probable support her confirmation. Solis says creating ‘green’ jobs leads her agenda. “I intend to vote for you,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). The panel’s ranking GOP member, Michael Enzi (Wyo.), said that even though some Republicans and Solis might have “very