Archive for May 2023

ASA Secures Win for Subcontractors in Texas Prompt Payment Case ALEXANDRIA, Va.—On May 19th, the Texas Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Pepper-Lawson Horizon International Group and against Texas Southern University.  The American Subcontractors Association supported a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of Pepper-Lawson last year, seeking an appeal on a decision that held that…

This Week in Congress This week, Congress is singularly focused on the debt ceiling debate with both chambers debating H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which reflects a deal reached with the White House to suspend the debt limit, set spending caps, and other provisions.   The House is on recess this week, but returned on…

Debt Ceiling Debate – The Fiscal Responsibility Act Congress is set to debate the Fiscal Responsibility Act (HR 3746) with Conservative House Republicans balking at the deal, claiming it does not contain sufficient spending cuts. Progressive Democrats are concerned about the work requirements, some environmental provisions, the energy permitting and spending caps. Defense hawks say…

ENR Launching Annual Specialty Contractor Competitions In October 2023, Engineering News-Record (ENR) will release it’s 46th annual Top 600 Specialty Contractors list to it’s estimated three million unique yearly visitors. Ranked by year-end construction-specific revenue and categorized by the type of construction services provided, the leading subcontractors and specialty trade contractors in the U.S. will…

COVID-19 Rescissions Following is a breakdown of nearly $28 billion that would be rescinded from unspent pandemic relief funds in the debt ceiling bill (HR 3746). Almost half of the funding, $13.4 billion, would come from Health and Human Services accounts, predominantly the “public health and social services emergency fund.” The public health fund would…

This Week in Congress This week, the House voted on legislation that would permanently ban all fentanyl-related substances, which the Biden Administration supports, but some Democrats are concerned such a broad ban would lead to the over policing of people struggling with addiction.  Additionally, the House voted on resolutions that would cancel the Biden administration’s…

Debt Limit Update On Monday evening, President Biden and Speaker McCarthy met at the White House.  Per Speaker McCarthy, “the tone tonight was better than any other time we have had discussions.”  President Biden said he agreed that the session had been “productive.  We reiterated once again that default is off the table and the…

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Considers Supply Chain Bills On Tuesday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted on a supply chain-focused package of legislation regarding foreign ownership of U.S. marine terminals, rules for commercial driver’s license exams, allowing some trucks to weigh more, and authorize spending to alleviate a parking shortage for trucks.…

ASA Announces Launch of New Health Plan as Exclusive Member Benefit 5/22/2023 (Alexandria, Virginia) – The American Subcontractors Association (ASA) proudly announces the launch of a new, exciting, and exclusive member benefit – the ASAdvantage Health Plan. Working in collaboration with World Insurance Associates and Health Cooperative Strategies, the ASA Advantage Health Plan features an unlimited…

Surety Bonds on P3 Agreements: Sound Public Policy Protections The federal government long has recognized the importance of surety bonding requirements for its direct public works procurements. The federal Miller Act (40 USC 3131-3134), enacted in 1935, and related regulations, require that payment and performance bonds be in place on any direct federal construction contract…