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This Week in Congress Congress voted on a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through December 16, 2022 to avoid a government shutdown. The CR includes funding for Ukraine, natural disaster assistance, pipeline permit provisions, five-year reauthorization of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s user fee programs, Afghan refugee settlement, and low-income home…

Small Business Know-Before-You-Bid Construction Transparency Act Last Friday, September 23, 2022, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council released their final rule regarding the Small Business-Know-Before-You-Bid Construction Transparency Act, which ASA, along with the Construction Industry Procurement Coalition (CIPC), supported during the 116th Congress (2019-2021).  This regulation applies to any federal solicitation for small business construction…

ASA Supports the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 ASA, along with the Construction Industry Procurement Coalition (CIPC), urged the House and Senate Transportation Committee Leadership to pass the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA 2022).   This legislation is an essential step forward as Congress works to continue the biennial process of passing…

ASA Urges Passage of the Small Business Payment Performance Act ASA, along with the Construction Industry Procurement Coalition (CIPC), urged the Senate Armed Services Committee Leadership to support the Small Business Payment for Performance Act, Section 870 of H.R. 7900 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, requiring timely partial payments for agency…

DOE Announces $7 Billion for Hydrogen Hub Funding Last Friday, September 23, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) made $7 billion available to fund regional clean hydrogen hubs (H2Hubs) across the country, which will form a key power source in America’s future clean energy economy. DOE also released a draft of the National Clean…

This Week in Congress The House considered legislation amending the Electoral County Act, an 1873 law establishing how states and Congress certify presidential elections.  This legislation expands a Senate bill introduced this summer by Sens. Collins (R-ME) and Manchin (D-WV).  Additionally, the Senate voted on a long-pending campaign finance transparency bill, known as the DISCLOSURE…

ASA Supports Using ARP Funds for Transportation Projects On Thursday, September 15, 2022, ASA, along with the transportation construction coalition, sent a letter to House and Senate Leadership requesting additional flexibility in using the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for transportation projects.  The ARP law provided $350 billion in state and local government relief funds…

2022 Midterm Election Outlook Though the outcome of the 2022 midterm elections remains uncertain, the odds of the Democrats retaining majorities in both the House and Senate are very slim. The lame duck session is expected to be the Democrats’ last best chance to get priority items passed before 2024. Congress will look quite different…

This Week in Congress This week both chambers of Congress were in session and during the September legislative work period, the House will vote on a continuing resolution to extend funding for the federal government until after the election, along with voting on H.R. 2988, the Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act; H.R. 832, the Ensuring a…

The Capitol’s Phase III Opening Begins This week, the public will be allowed into the Senate chamber as part of the “Phase 3” reopening, the Sergeant at Arms told Senate offices last week. Beginning 30 minutes before the Senate comes into session, two public galleries will open to visitors. These galleries will remain open until…