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ASA Supports Bonding in USDA’s Broadband ReConnect Program Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Secretary, Tom Vilsack, announced an additional $1 billion in funding for the expansion of access to high-speed internet, health care and educational services for millions of rural Americans nationwide. This is an addition to the proposed funding in President Biden’s…

Tax Provisions in Build Back Better Act On November 19th, the House passed the Build Back Better Act (the “BBB”) (HR. 5376) and in the tax area, many of the provisions which could have been very detrimental to small businesses and their owners were removed from the final House passed version of the BBB. More…

Federal Contractor Vaccine Halted! The mandate for federal contractors’ employees to be vaccinated will be halted nationwide. The mandate, which would be effective January 4, 2022, applies to companies that do business with the federal government. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Georgia blocked the mandate and this latest order follows a Kentucky federal judge’s grant…

This Week in Congress Congress worked to prevent a government shutdown before December 3rd, along with passing legislation to extend the borrowing authority of the U.S. government.  Additionally, the Senate considered the House passed $1.7 trillion Build Back Better Act. Return to the ASAToday page to read more articles.

Build Back Better Advances to the Senate On Friday, November 19, 2021, the House voted 220-213 to advance The Build Back Better Act (BBBA), also known as the reconciliation bill, which focuses on “human infrastructure” such as social services and programs including education, healthcare, housing, and the environment.  BBBA now goes to the Senate, where…

Upcoming Webinar from ConsensusDocs Construction experience teaches us that an improving economy lifts some boats but may sink others. Ironically, the most vulnerable time for construction suppliers and trade contractors to fail is when the economy and construction activity improves. Join ConsensusDocs on Wednesday, December 15th at 2 PM ET for their upcoming live webinar,…

ASA Offers Comments to the FY22 NDAA ASA, along with the Construction Industry Procurement Coalition (CIPC), offered comments to the House and Senate Armed Services’ Committee Leadership highlighting our views regarding the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  We support the Defense Department submitting a report on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) on small…

U.S. Department of Labor Extends COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard Comment Period On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, OSHA extended the comment period for the COVID-19 vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard to January 19, 2022. OSHA extended the comment period by 45 days to allow stakeholders additional time to review the ETS and…

Funding the Government into 2022 The current continuing resolution (CR) expires on December 3rd, giving members of Congress until midnight on Friday to pass a government funding extension. House Appropriations Chair DeLauro said she wants the next CR to extend funding only through sometime in December to keep the pressure on members of Congress to…

SLDF Update: Good News from Oklahoma As an update to the SLDF case pending before the Oklahoma Supreme Court, H2K Technologies, Inc., v WSP USA, Inc. and Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland, involving the waiver of subcontractor lien rights, a decision was reached on November 16, 2021, reversing and remanding the matter to the…