Archive for June 2022

This Week in Congress Congress is celebrating the 4th of July Recess until Monday, July 11, 2022. Return to the ASAToday page to read more articles.

New Price Escalation Member Resource in InfoHub! ASA released a new contract language resource document this week addressing the much requested issue of price escalation. Lee Brumitt, of Dysart Taylor Cotter McMonigle & Brumitt, PC, produced and supplied the resource for the Association. It is now an accepted reality of construction that certain products and materials…

ASA Supports the Small Business Payment Performance Act of 2022 On Friday, July 1, 2022, Rep. Stauber (R-MN), a member of the House Small Business Committee and the Co-Chair of the House Procurement Congressional Caucus, introduced the Small Business Performance Act of 2022, which ASA helped draft and supports.  This legislation would amend the Small…

ASA Opposes Gas Tax Holiday On June 22, 2022, ASA and the Americans for Transportation Mobility (ATM) coalition sent a letter to President Biden opposing any and all efforts to undermine recent and historic infrastructure investments, including suspending federal and state motor fuel user fees, commonly known as “gas taxes.” Per the letter, “American consumers…

President Biden Signs the Safer Communities Act On June 25, 2022, President Biden signed into law the first major federal gun safety legislation passed in decades entitled the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, authored by Sens. Cornyn (R-TX), Tillis (R-NC), Murphy (D-CT), and Sinema (D-AZ).  The legislation includes $750 million to help states implement and operate…

This Week in Congress This week, the Senate worked to finalize gun violence legislation, the House continued with the January 6th Committee Hearings, and the Supreme Court offered final rulings on pending cases.  House Democratic leaders presented bills that would formally establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health; require certain federal agencies to collect data on…

ASA Urges Biden Administration to Delay Construction Material Requirements in Infrastructure Law This week, ASA, along with the AGC, sent a letter to Senior Advisor to the President for Infrastructure Coordination, Mitch Landrieu, regarding our concerns about the new Buy America, Build America Act (BABAA) requirements for construction materials included in the Infrastructure Investment Jobs…

Biden Administration Announce Talent Pipeline Challenge On Friday, the Biden Administration announced the “Talent Pipeline Challenge,” that would connect employers to organizations that offer job training, such as unions, industry associations, and community colleges.  The effort also encourages state and local government to use funding from the infrastructure law and the American Rescue Plan to…

OSHA May NOT Issue a Rule on COVID-19 Healthcare Construction The Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health recommended a separate rule on construction in hospitals from COVID-19 infections is not necessary, but should be included in the proposed permanent healthcare standard. The committee’s decision makes it unlikely OSHA will pursue a separate rule focused…

This Week in Congress The House voted this week on the Senate’s version of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which ASA supported to eliminate port congestion, along with legislation to address food and fuel prices, diversity practices at financial institutions, and wildlife recovery and conservation efforts.  Additionally, the House select committee investigating January 6, 2021…