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U.S. Capitol Restrictions After two years of pandemic and insurrection-related security restrictions, lobbyists are urging Congress to let them roam the halls of Capitol Hill once again. The National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics, which represents lobbyists, is asking that the restrictions be lifted. The group is concerned with strict rules on the House side.…

FY22 Omnibus Funding Package Congress worked on passing a $1.5 trillion omnibus appropriations package, along with funding for Ukraine aid and Covid-19. Both chambers needed to pass the bill by Friday night’s deadline when the current continuing resolution (CR) expires. Per Senate Majority Leader Schumer, the Ukraine spending bill will total “more than $12 billion.”…

A Congressional Welcome to the 2022 SUBExcel Sens. Rubio (R-FL) and Scott (R-FL), along with Rep. Steube (R-FL), welcomed the 2022 SUBExcel in Miramar Beach, FL.  SUBExcel is the annual national convention of the American Subcontractors Association (ASA), a trade association representing construction subcontractors, specialty trade contractors and suppliers.  At this year’s SUBExcel, ASA’s Government…

This Week in Congress Congress was in session this week with the Senate voting on abortion, violence against women, and postal reform legislation.  The House voted on legislation to expand veterans’ care and benefits. Return to the ASAToday page to read more articles.

ASA Urges House and Senate Leadership Infrastructure Funding Flexibility ASA, along with the Transportation Infrastructure Coalition, urged House and Senate Leadership to allow states and localities greater flexibility with their American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds.  ASA supported S. 3011 and H.R. 5735, which would allow for this flexibility, and we hope that this legislation will…

U.S. Department of Transportation Awards $450 Million in Grant Funding for Port-Related Projects On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, the U.S. Transportation Department awarded $450 million in grants for port-related projects to bolster capacity and improve the movement of goods as the U.S. economy continues to be affected by congested supply chains.  Applicants must show that…

Infrastructure Bill Update Senate Republicans asked Transportation Secretary Buttigieg to rescind or “substantially revise” the Federal Highway Administration’s guidance on the new bipartisan infrastructure law, which they claim favors road repair over new construction in defiance of congressional intent. Senator Capito (R-WV), the ranking member on the Environment and Public Works Committee, wrote a letter…

Is Immigration Reform Dwindling Away in 2022? As we begin the second session of the 117th Congress in anticipation of the midterm elections, the chances of passing immigration reform legislation continue to dwindle leaving members of Congress eyeing another strategy including regulatory and executive actions.   To that end, many members of Congress are calling upon…

FY22 Budget Update! This week, the House and Senate Appropriators continued their negotiations to complete their work on the FY22 Budget.  Sen. Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, stated “it will provide the biggest increase in nondefense programs in four years. Under this framework, we can direct new resources to improve health care…

President Biden’s State of the Union On Tuesday, March 1, 2022, President Biden delivered his first State of the Union (SOTU) address before a joint session of Congress; the president’s address before a joint session of Congress in 2021 was not a formal State of the Union. During it, the President addressed his “Build Back…