Archive for February 2021

How Reconciliation Works The Small Business Legislative Council provided the following historical synopsis of the budget reconciliation process.  There has been much discussion and speculation regarding whether the Democrats will try to pass parts of President Biden’s proposed COVID relief bill using a process known as reconciliation.  As we watch all this play out, we…

Sen. Shelby (R-AL) to Retire Sen. Shelby (R- AL) announced that he would not seek another term.  Shelby is completing his 6th term.  “During my time in the Senate, I have been given great opportunity, having chaired four committees: Appropriations, Rules, Banking, and Intelligence. In these positions of leadership, I have strived to influence legislation that will…

This Week in Congress The House and Senate were in session this week.  On Monday, a group of ten Senate Republicans met with President Biden to discuss a roughly $600 billion coronavirus stimulus package in an effort to forge a bipartisan path forward for relief efforts. Additionally, the Senate continued to hold confirmation hearings and…

Reverse Auctions: An Inappropriate Procurement Method for Design and Construction Services On Friday, February 5, 2021, ASA, along with the members of the Construction Industry Procurement Coalition (CIPC), submitted comments to the Reverse Auction Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Request.  They claimed the following in their comments: Due to the complexities of design and construction projects,…

New ASA Platinum Sponsor AssuredPartners At AssuredPartners (AP) we understand that on any construction project there are a lot of moving parts with numerous risks and challenges. That is why we are collaborating with the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) to provide construction-specific expertise in identifying and mitigating construction risks. Our experienced AP team of Construction…

Upcoming Webinar: Maintaining a Healthy Margin In an Up or Down Market Join us on February 9th, 2021 at Noon Eastern for the upcoming complimentary ASA webinar, “Maintaining a Healthy Margin In an Up or Down Market”.  This webinar will feature a panel discussion regarding the below issues with ASA’s own industry leaders. In an Up Market: How…

President Biden’s Executive Orders Impacts the Construction Community Since his inauguration on January 20, 2021, President Biden has issued the following executive orders, which will impact the construction community: Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis  On January 20, 2021, President Biden directed the heads of all federal…

Sen. Schumer’s Invoked Climate Emergency Sen. Schumer called for Biden to declare a climate emergency, a controversial move that would give the new administration sweeping authority to circumvent Congress to combat global warming. Declaring a climate emergency could unlock new powers for President Biden, including the ability to redirect funding for clean energy projects, shut…

Reshaping President Biden’s $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Package Senate Majority Leader Schumer said he aims to secure passage of the next round of Covid-19 relief by mid-March, just when jobless benefits from the previous package will run out. While some Republicans are rejecting the price tag of the $1.9 trillion bill proposed by the President, Biden…