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Construction Legislative Week In Review
From the Congressional Relations Staff
April 22, 1999
Volume 4, Issue 16

The Associated
General Contractors
of America
333 John Carlyle Street
Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 548-3118
(703) 837-5404 fax


Jeffrey D. Shoaf
Executive Director
Congressional Relations
shoafj@agc.org

202/383-2762

Joan Huntley LaVor
Director
AGC PAC
lavorj@agc.org

202/383-2761

Peter Loughlin
Director
Construction Markets
loughlip@agc.org

202/383-2766

Loren E. Sweatt
Director
Procurement and
Environment
sweattl@agc.org
202/383-2760

Phil Thoden
Director
Tax & Fiscal Affairs
thodenp@agc.org
202/383-2764

Patrick Wilson
Director
Human Resources & Labor
wilsonp@agc.org
202/383-2763
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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