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ASA Supports Immigration Reform Including Expansion of the H2B Program and More… Three-fourths of the construction industry consists of subcontractors, and ASA members will need 723,00 workers annually to meet demand.  Factors driving this include natural disaster recovery, increased data center needs, likely raising labor costs. In the past year, average hourly earnings have increased…

ASA Supports Sen. Risch (R-ID)’s Simplifying Subcontracting Act ASA supports the reintroduction of the Simplifying Subcontracting Act, a bill designed to reduce complexity in federal government contracting to assist more small businesses and entrepreneurs in pursuing contracts. Last year, Senators Crapo (R-ID), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Budd (R-NC), Kennedy (R-LA), and Rubio (R-FL) joined Senator Risch in…

ASA Supports the Water Infrastructure Subcontractor & Taxpayer Protection Act ASA commends Sens. Kelly (D-AZ) and Cramer (R-ND) for introducing bipartisan legislation to improve project delivery and reduce risk of default on federally financed water infrastructure projects. The Water Infrastructure Subcontractor and Taxpayer Protection Act would require any primary contractor working on water infrastructure projects…

ASA Calls Upon Congress to Enact a Fee on Electric Vehicles Investing in the nation’s infrastructure provides far-reaching economic benefits. Recent congressional support for roads, bridges and public transportation systems has helped deliver much-needed projects to every congressional district across the country.  These improvements have enhanced safety, mobility and efficiency nationwide. These outcomes are made…

This Week in Congress This week both chambers of Congress were in session with the House voting on the HALT Fentanyl Act (H.R. 27), which would amend the Controlled Substances Act to permanently list the drug as a Schedule I controlled substance, and the Protecting American Energy Production Act (H.R. 26), to prohibit a moratorium…

Budget Reconciliation As previously reported, last week Republicans held their annual policy retreat.  In his appearance before the group on Monday, President Trump urged the conference “not to get stuck on the details” of a budget reconciliation strategy, clarifying that he does not care whether his priorities are addressed in one bill or two.  With…

Tariffs? President Trump’s plans for tariffs against Mexico and Canada have been paused for 30 days. On Monday, President Trump had discussions with Mexican President Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, just one day before the 25 percent tariffs on goods imports were to take effect. Both Mexico and Canada have agreed to do more…

Department of Transportation Memo Grants Marriage Preferences and High Birth Rates? A new Department of Transportation (DOT) memo directs the department to give grant preferences to “communities with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average.”  The action comes after the DOT announced that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had authorized a series of actions…

Delaying the CTA until 2026? Several organizations, representing millions of Main Street businesses operating in every industry and community in America, applauded the Department of the Treasury for its swift action in pausing the Corporate Transparency Act’s (CTA) reporting requirements while a nationwide court order remains in place, and respectfully requested extending the CTA filing…

This Week in Congress This week, the House was not in session, and the Senate held nomination votes for cabinet positions including Treasury, Transportation, Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, and Energy.  Also, the Senate voted on a House-passed bill that would impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court over its…