AGC Chapter leadership Tell
Congress to "Demolish the Death Tax!"
Nearly 150 AGC Presidents representing 70
Chapters took to Capitol Hill today to urge Congress to
"demolish" the death tax. Presidents provided their
federal legislators with a death tax "demolition kit, "
a folder containing important information about the
death tax and the havoc it wreaks on family-held
construction companies. The Presidents also heard from
Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-WA) a strong proponent of death
tax elimination who has introduced legislation (H.R. 8)
to accomplish this goal.
Elimination of the death tax is AGC top
legislative priority in the 106th Congress. "The death
tax kills jobs," said AGC President Terry Deeny. "When
the owner of a family-held construction company dies,
the federal government hammers the company with a death
tax totaling up to 55% of all assets. Unable to pay,
many companies close their doors. Those that survive
lose valuable resources for job creation and business
growth. It is time for Congress to demolish the death
tax!"
AGC Member Testifies on Federal Prison
Industry Expansion. Nearly 150 AGC Presidents
and Vice Presidents representing 77 Chapters took to
Capitol Hill today to urge Congress to "demolish" the
death tax. These AGC leaders provided their federal
legislators with a death tax "demolition kit, " a folder
containing important information about the death tax and
the havoc it wreaks on family-held construction
companies. These AGC leaders also heard from Rep.
Jennifer Dunn (R-WA) a strong proponent of death tax
demolition who has introduced legislation (H.R. 8) to
accomplish this goal.
AGC Member Testifies On Federal Prison
Industry Expansion: AGC member Bryan Rossman,
President, C Construction Corporation, Inc. based in
Tyler, Texas, testified before the Oversight and
Investigations Subcommittee of the House Education and
Workforce Committee. Rossman’s testimony focused on the
potential effects of the Federal Prison Industries (FPI)
Proposed Regulatory Expansions which were printed in the
Federal Register January 7, 1999. The proposal appears
to allow FPI to expand into the federal construction
market. AGC stated its concern that the rule could
adversely impact AGC supplier members, quality and
timeliness of construction projects.
EPA Refuses to Appeal Clean Air Decision:
Despite AGC and Congressional pressure, EPA
announced it would not appeal the case invalidating the
grandfather clause (EDF v. EPA). This week EPA presented
the outline of regulations designed to appease EDF in
order to allow some highway projects to go forward if
there is prior commitment of DOT funding and this
commitment is made before the court decision. The "prior
conformity determinations" will be made by May 31. Some
in Congress feel that this regulatory proposal will only
expose the government to further litigation. However,
Senator Bond (R-MO) will introduce legislation codifying
EPA’s grandfather rule that will overturn the Court’s
decision. This action will prevent EPA’s regulatory
action from facing another court challenge.
EPA Continues Work on Effluent
Guidelines: States are meeting with EPA to
discuss their concern about EPA’s work on regulating
runoff form construction sites. In a settlement with the
Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) a court ordered
EPA to have new guidelines proposed by December 2000.
Currently, construction runoff is controlled through
permitting in the national Pollutant Discharge
Elimination Program (NPDES). Scientists and engineers do
not believe a nationwide standard can be created given
the changes in geology, topography, and climate across
the country.
House Committee approves WRDA:
Today, the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee approved the Water Resources Development Act
of 1999 (WRDA). The bill primarily authorizes water and
dredging projects for the US Army Corps of Engineers.
The bill awaits floor consideration in both the House
and Senate.
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