93 Percent of Construction firms have reported that they are experiencing material shortages and/or allocations.
The $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA) included the 鈥淏uild America, Buy America Act鈥 which applies a domestic preference to all taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects. The Office of Management and Budget released new guidance on these rules on April 18th, 2022. The new guidelines are meant to assist federal agencies in the application of 鈥淏uy America鈥 requirements and the waiver processes for all federally funded infrastructure projects and not just those funded by the IIJA. The requirements are currently set to be in effect starting May 14th.
Construction Official Says New Guidance will Undermine New Bipartisan Infrastructure Measure鈥檚 Benefits, Adds the Kind of Red Tape that Betrays Americans鈥 Confidence in Federal Spending
Earmarks Also Set to Return after a Decade Hiatus
Allows Congress More Time to Negotiate Full-Year Bill, Including Funding for New Infrastructure Programs
As previously reported by AGC, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) includes new Buy America requirements, that could delay infrastructure projects funded by the law. The IIJA provides funding for physical infrastructure like roads, water systems, the electric grid, and more. The new and expanded Buy America requirements apply to all federally funded programs and include manufactured products, like iron and steel, and also construction materials used on projects within those programs.
Accepts Many AGC Recommendations
Funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Supplemental
AGC was successful in its effort to strip several harmful construction provisions from the annual defense bill, called the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). For military construction projects, those provisions would have: