Archive for June 2024

This Week in Congress The Senate was not in session this week and will reconvene on July 8th; however, the House was in session and voted on appropriation bills for the Defense, Homeland Security, and State Departments, along with votes on a bill expressing support for human rights and democracy in Pakistan, a bill to…

Decrease in First-Time Federal Small Business Contractors Decreasing numbers of first-time federal vendors in three closely watched small business categories; small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses, and companies in Historically Underutilized Business zones, are sparking worries about federal agencies’ ability to attract and retain a diverse supplier base. A House passed bill (H.R. 7988) by…

Participate in the 2024 Lean Benchmarking Survey – Your Input Matters ASA is collaborating with the Lean Construction Institute and Dodge Construction Network to study the national utilization of Lean in design and construction. The 12-15 minute survey will reveal important benchmarking data to determine the progress of Lean use throughout the industry, and we…

ASA Members met with Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) A great day on Capitol Hill for ASA ASA Texas Members met with Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) ASA DC Fly-In Wrap Up Last week, ASA advocated on Capitol Hill to ensure the voices of subcontractors, who make up the three-fourths of the construction industry, are heard…

This Week in Congress The House is out of session this week and Tuesday was the only hearing day in the Senate before members broke for the Juneteenth holiday. The Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee considered the Spectrum and National Security Act of 2024. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee heard testimony on “examining…

SLDF Moving the Ball for Subcontractors in Texas! June 18, 2024 – At the urging of the American Subcontractors Association’s Subcontractor Legal Defense Fund and other concerned parties, the Texas Supreme Court on Friday agreed to take up the Third Coast Services & Spawglass Construction v Castaneda case. The dispute involved a multi-vehicle accident on…

The House Small Business Committee Unanimously Approves the Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act Reps. Alford (R-KS) and Mfume (D-MD) legislation entitled “the Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act,” H.R. 8014, was unanimously approved by the House Small Business Committee with a vote 23-0.  The legislation would bring clarity to small…

Update on Pending OSHA Rules As we head into summer, we would like to share several recent updates coming out of OSHA: OSHA Heat Standard Under OMB Review – On June 11, OSHA submitted its proposed rule establishing a federal heat injury and illness prevention standard for indoor and outdoor work settings to the Office…

This Week in Congress The congressional summer schedule is upon us with the House and Senate each slated to be in session just three of the next six weeks. The Senate voted on in vitro fertilization legislation and the House voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt.  Additionally, the House voted on the…

Federal Deficit Increases Per the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the federal deficit increased to $1.2 trillion for the first eight months of this fiscal year, an increase of $38 billion from the shortfall recorded during the same period last year. Spending grew by $332 billion, or 8 percent, from October through May, compared to the…