Moves to President’s Desk for Signature
This week, both the House – by a vote of 412-4 – and the Senate – by a vote of 91-7 – approved the final Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA).
ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ and its coalition partners in the Water Infrastructure Network have been engaged in an 18-month campaign to include significant clean water provisions in the final conference package of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act. Those efforts successfully secured several provisions that improve the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
EPA has released its guidance document for contractors and owners related to projects funded with Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) dollars to use American iron and steel products. You can read the guidance here.
After a great deal of effort this Congress, legislation removing the volume cap on private activity bonds for water and sewer infrastructure was re-introduced in the House. Sponsoring the legislation this time around, in the wake of the retirement of our previous Republican champion Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.), is Rep. Jimmy Duncan (R-Tenn.) with lead Democrat Rep. Bill Pacrell (D-N.J.).
Take Action: Visit ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ’s Legislative Action Center to Submit Your Comments Today On Sept. 12, 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a proposed new rule on silica exposure. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ members, chapters and interested stakeholders are encouraged to submit comment letters opposing the proposed new rule on silica exposure through the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Legislative Action Center (LAC). A sample, editable letter has been provided for your convenience and can be customized to your respective operations. Click here to access the letter. All comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) Feb. 11, 2014.
In mid November, Rep. Earl Blumenauer introduced a bipartisan, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ-supported piece of legislation that would create a water infrastructure trust fund designed to supplement the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) with additional capitalization. Please take action now and urge your Representatives to cosponsor and support H.R. 3582, The Water Trust Fund Act of 2013.
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) has introduced the Water Infrastructure Investment Act with the support of senior Republicans on the water infrastructure authorizing Committees - Rep. Duncan (R-Tenn.), Rep. Whitfield (R-Ky.), Rep. Hanna (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Petri (R-Wis.). The introduction of the bipartisan Water Infrastructure Financing Act is both important and timely as we look to potentially address shortfalls in our nation's infrastructure funding through ongoing Budget negotiations.
Information for Construction Contractors Operating Under the Federal Government Shutdown
The fiscal year 2013 appropriations law expired October 1, 2013, the beginning of FY 2014. The failure by lawmakers to reach an agreement on funding for the new fiscal year resulted in a federal government shutdown. The shutdown has left contractors wondering how or even if they can continue to perform their federal contracts. Construction contracts awarded on a fixed-price basis will be substantially unaffected by the shutdown. However, for most cost-type contracts, time and materials contracts, IDIQ/MATOC/MACC contracts, and those contracts that have yet to be awarded, the shutdown will likely suspend operations completely. Therefore, it is important for contractors to prepare for the consequences of a government shutdown.
The 2013 Highway and Utilities Contractors Issues Conference will be held Nov. 7-9, 2013, at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Ariz. Â Industry professionals from companies involved in building highway, bridge, utility and underground construction, transit, airport runway and rail projects will benefit from this conference. Â Presentation and discussions on major trends in highway and utility construction will be featured, including:
The House Interior/Environment Appropriations Subcommittee finished up its work on a bill that would fund, among other things, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its programs for fiscal year (FY) 2014. The EPA saw almost a $3 billion cut to their programs, with the State Revolving Loan Funds (SRFs) taking the brunt of the cuts.