Archive for March 2023

This Week in Congress The Senate considered legislation that would repeal the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force against Iraq and the House voted on an energy bill, which would overhaul the environmental permitting process and expand oil and gas lease sales on federal lands.  Congress will be Easter/Passover Recess starting…

Debt Limit Update House Republicans have sent mixed messages about the debt-limit and other budgetary measures, making it unclear what comes next in negotiations with President Biden. Budget Chair Arrington said Republicans were close to putting out a “term sheet” of GOP priorities for a debt-limit deal. Return to the ASAToday page to read more…

Banker’s Pay President Biden’s call for legislation that would allow regulators to claw back executive bonuses and stock sale proceeds stemming from the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapse has found a receptive audience on Capitol Hill.  Democrats and Republicans are unlikely to come together to tighten bank regulations following the collapse of SVB of Santa…

COVID-19 Funding to Localities The National League of Cities issued a report Monday that said $65.1 billion in direct federal aid to cities, towns, and villages through last year’s pandemic relief law (PL 117-2) helped to stabilize municipal budgets and maintain service delivery while avoiding layoffs during the pandemic. It stated the funding did not…

This Week in Congress The Senate voted on legislation to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq, along with nomination votes.  As highlighted last week, the Senate’s voting agenda is stalled by the continued absence of Sen. Fetterman (D-PA), who continues his inpatient treatment for depression, along with Sen. Feinstein (D-CA), who…

ASA Supports Sen. Thune (R-SD)’s Death Tax Repeal Act ASA supports the reintroduction of Sen. Thune (R-SD)’s the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2023, which would permanently repeal the federal estate tax.  In 2022, the Tax Foundation found that the U.S. could create over 150,000 jobs by repealing the estate tax. A 2012 study by…

ASA’s Michael Oscar Named Chair of Small Business Legislative Council March 22, 2023 Michael Oscar, Government Regulations Director at the American Subcontractors Association (ASA), has been elected as Chair of the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC). The SBLC is an independent, permanent coalition of trade and professional associations who share a common concern for the…

The Construction Industry Needs Workers Per the November 22, 2022, Construction Drive, “the construction industry needs workers, and the current supply is not measuring up to demand. Older workers in the skilled trades are retiring and not enough young people are training to take their jobs as construction workers, plumbers, and electricians. “ That gap…

Health Spending Slows The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) stated that it overestimated projections for federal health care spending between 2010 and 2020 and costs will likely remain lower than expected for at least another decade. The agency said the government spent less money per beneficiary than CBO had foreseen, amounting to $1.1 trillion. Slower growth…

Balanced Budget? House Republicans appear to be lowering expectations that they can adopt a balanced-budget blueprint this year, while still keeping their commitment to cap next year’s spending at the FY22 levels. House Budget Chairman Arrington said the goal to balance the budget has not gone by the wayside, but it’s not the most important…