Death Tax Repeal Bill to be Marked Up This Month

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer said that this month his committee will consider a bill calling for full, gradual elimination of the death tax. The bill has not yet been unveiled, but Archer said it would be modeled after the death tax repeal included in the $792 billion tax cut bill vetoed last year. That bill called for a gradual repeal of the death tax over 10 years, a conversion of the unified credit into a true exemption, and modification of the step-up in basis for inherited assets. A floor vote is likely in early June. AGC is calling for grassroots letters in support of the death tax elimination bill. Samples can be found at www.agc.org by clicking on the "Demolish the Death Tax" link.

House Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee Approves Record Funding For Highway and Aviation Programs: The Fiscal Year 2001 appropriations cycle is underway. This week, the House Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee approved increased funding for all major categories, including the highway and aviation programs. The highway program is funded at $30.7 billion, an increase of $1.898 billion (almost 7%) over this year's level. Included in this funding level is about $3 billion more than assumed in TEA-21 because of the increase in gas tax revenue. Since FY 1995, funding for the federal-aid highway program has increased more than $13 billion, or nearly 80%. Transit funding in the bill totals $6.3 billion, an increase of $486 million over this year's level. The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) is funded in compliance with the level contained in the recently enacted Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21) at $3.2 billion, an increase of $1.25 billion, or 64% over this year's level. The full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to approve the bill the week of May 16. The Senate has not yet considered their bill. 

House Appropriations Committee Approves FY 2001 Military Construction Funding: The full House Appropriations Committee approved the FY 2001 Military Construction Appropriations Bill. The bill provides $3.7 billion for military construction ($300 million less than this year), $827 million for military housing ($6 million more than this year) and $1.2 billion for base closure ($502 million more than this year). The Full Senate Appropriations Committee approved the following funding levels: $3.81 billion for Military Construction; $886 million for family housing; and, $1.2 billion for base closure.

Ten Virginia Jobsites In Violation of Clean Water Act: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cited owners and developers of ten different areas for filling wetlands and not having storm water permits on jobsites over 5 acres. The owners and developers will be required to stabilize and restore all the affected property. 

Hearing Held on Debt Payment Act: The Government Management Information and Technology Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R. 4181, the Debt Payment Incentive Act of 2000. This legislation would prevent anyone failing to pay federal taxes from receiving a federal contract or loan. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Department of Defense, and General Accounting Office testified that the legislation's public policy goal was worthy, but implementation of the legislation would be difficult. The General Accounting Office stated, "IRS currently does not have the systems that would enable it to consistently provide federal agencies with timely, accurate, and complete information on ... tax delinquency status." AGC also provided a statement for the record questioning IRS' ability to supply accurate information.

House Subcommittee Passes Bill to Increase Funding for Worker Training: House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Bill Goodling presided over a full committee mark-up on Wednesday of a bill to redirect the fees collected for H1-b visa applications. Money raised by fees for foreign high tech workers will be allocated to train Americans for jobs for many industries with a shortage of skilled workers. Under the measure passed Wednesday, the Labor Department would get about $63 million for programs to teach technical skills, while $ 21 million would go the education department.

Contractors Testify Before OSHA Panel: Today, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) testified before the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) concerning the controversial proposal for an ergonomics standard. AGC member Bill Ahal, director of Health Services of SM Wilson, a general contractor/construction manager in the St. Louis area, and member of AGC's National Safety & Health Committee, submitted evidence to support the exclusion of construction operations from the proposed ergonomics standard. Ahal also recommended OSHA adopt an education, not regulation, attitude towards ergonomics.



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