AGC.ORG Place your ad here!
HOME SITE MAP SEARCH CONTACT AGC MY PROFILE
Legislative Info
Legislative Week in Review
Position Papers
Major Legislation Status
Voting Record
AGC Members Testify
Legislative Links
Members Only
Congress at Your Fingertips
Action Items
Legislative Bulletins
AGC PAC
Federal Gov't Work
Construction By Contact Database
Main Menu
AGC Overview
Marketplace
Bookstore & Member Benefits
News & Bulletins
Legislative Info
Education/Training
Safety Info
Labor & Human Resources
Member Resources
Environmental Services

Construction Legislative Week In Review
From the Congressional Relations Staff
July 22, 1999
Volume 4, Issue 29

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
House Votes to Demolish The Death Tax!

The House of Representatives this afternoon passed a $792 billion tax cut bill that completely phases out the death tax over a 10-year period. The final vote tally was 223-208. Under the proposal, the death tax would be gradually decreased beginning in 2001 and then fully eliminated in 2009. For inherited assets subsequently sold, a capital gains tax would apply using the original cost basis to determine the amount of the asset. s appreciation. The bill also includes other provisions of benefit to the construction industry such as elimination of the corporate AMT, lower individual and corporate capital gains rates, and tax incentives for investment in depressed communities. Meanwhile the Senate Finance Committee this week passed a separate tax cut package that includes more modest death tax relief. Under the Senate plan, the highest death tax rate would be 50% in 2001. Beginning in 2004, the unified credit would be replaced by a true exemption equivalent to the current exemption schedule, and beginning in 2007 the exemption would increase from $1 million to $1.5 million. The full Senate will consider the Finance Committee bill beginning next week.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Cancels Transportation Partners Program: Facing intense political scrutiny for funding organizations whose only goal was to reduce automobile use and obstruct road projects, EPA Administrator Browner conceded in a letter to Senator Byrd (D-WV) that the program was unbalanced and unaccountable. EPA will begin to replace the program with the Transportation Environment Network that will focus on reducing pollution from vehicles, rather than forcing vehicles off the roads. AGC plans to work with the Transportation and Environment Network to harmonize EPA. s transportation and environment policy.

Nationwide Permit (NWP) Deadline Extended: The Corps of Engineers reproposed the modification to the Nationwide Permits due to the overwhelming number of comments received on the initial proposal earlier this year. In addition to proposing modifications based on comments received, the Corps will allow NWP 26, the current general permit, to continue until December 31. Comments on the proposal are due September 7.

Congress Restricts Kyoto Protocol Spending: The House Appropriations Committee approved language on the foreign operations spending legislation to prohibit funding of the Kyoto Protocol by the Administration. The Protocol is an international agreement attempting to curb so-called greenhouse gas emissions. Fundamentally flawed, the agreement fails to include some of the worst and largest polluters in the world like China, Brazil, and India. The Clinton Administration signed the climate change treaty in November 1998, but has not submitted it to the Senate for approval.

Talent Spotlights Problems with Safety and Health Program Standard: On Thursday July 22, House Small Business Committee Chairman Jim Talent (R-MO) hosted an important hearing on OSHA. s proposed Safety and Health Program standard. The hearing focused attention on AGC. s criticism of the proposed standard and its potential harmful effects on America. s small and family-owned construction firms. OSHA Secretary Charles Jeffress, a witness for the Administration, noted that many AGC member firms currently do use written safety and health programs developed specifically for their own company, its employees, and unique circumstances. However, AGC is concerned that this "Washington-knows-best" initiative may actually undermine these existing voluntary plans.

According to an independent report commissioned by the Small Business Administration, this regulation would impose over $7.4 billion in new annual compliance costs on over four million small businesses. Although AGC of America is dedicated to increasing worker safety, AGC cannot support uniform federal standards which will surely stifle innovative approaches to workplace safety and compromise the ability of employers to tailor their management techniques to meet the safety demands of their business.

Back to Current Issue and Index | 1998 Issues | 1997 Issues



© Copyright 2001 The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America. All Rights Reserved. AGC can be contacted at info@agc.org - 333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, Va. 22314 - 703.548.3118 (phone) - 703.548.3119 (fax) - Site designed and maintained by e-Builder, Inc.