This week, key house and senate committee chairs including Senate Commerce Chairman, Wicker (R-MS), Environment and Public Works Chairman, Barrasso (R-WY), and House Transportation Chairman DeFazio (D-OR), are raising the notion of attaching a provision to a government spending bill for a one-year extension for the surface transportation law, which is set to expire at the end of the month (read below for additional details/action).
Meanwhile, the White House has indicated it may be willing to support a $1.52 trillion COVID stimulus package as put forth by the House Problem Solvers Caucus, whose 50 members include both Democrats and Republicans. This figure is larger than what was considered last week in the Senate (up to $700 billion) but failed to reach the necessary 60 votes necessary in order to proceed to a floor vote. Speaker Pelosi, while encouraged by the White House recent support of the Caucus’ proposal, remains committed, along with her committee chairs to a much larger COVID relief package, similar to the what was appropriated in the HEROES Act.
Construction Industry Procurement Coalition (CIPC)
As reported in the last edition of Focal Point, CIPC planned to submit a comment letter to the federal agencies that comprise the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council (GSA, DoD, and NASA), concerning FAR case 2019-013, “Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Threshold.” The proposed FAR change calls for increasing the payment bond threshold for federal construction contracts from $35,000 to $40,000, i.e. contracts that do not meet the Miller Act bond threshold of $150,000. As prescribed in FAR 28.102-1(b)(1), the federal contracting officer is given discretion when determining the type of security for these types of contracts which includes bonds, irrevocable letters of credit or escrow agreements for contracts from $35,000 up to $150,000. For your reference, a copy of CIPC’s comment letter can be found here.
NASBP urges Congress to take action to spur infrastructure & assist small businesses
NASBP and nearly 90 other organizations delivered a letter to house and senate leaders urging enactment of a bill by the end of the federal government’s fiscal year (Sept. 30) to include a one-year extension to the current surface transportation law with increased investment levels; emergency federal funding for state departments of transportation and public transit agencies—$37 billion and $32 billion, respectively; and provisions to ensure solvency of the Highway Trust Fund for the duration of the 1-year extension.
According to the Independent Community Bankers Association (IBCA) nearly 140 organizations, which includes NASBP, urge Congress to advance legislation S. 4117/H.R. 7777, “The Paycheck Protection Program Small Business Forgiveness Act”, sponsored by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) which among other significant provisions, forgives PPP loans for less than $150,000. According to the letter, PPP loans of $150,000 account for 86 percent of total PPP recipients, but less than 27 percent of actual PPP loan dollars. Expediting the loan forgiveness process for many of these hard-hit businesses will save more than $7 billion dollars and hours of paperwork. S. 4117 has 30 cosponsors, while its house companion has 70.
Now Available: Virtual Seminar & Podcast
U.S. Chamber addresses Rural Broadband & Infrastructure & NASBP Offers Podcast on rural broadband
In case you missed it, this week, NASBP hosted a virtual seminar titled, "U.S. Chamber of Commerce Policy Briefing on Rural Broadband and Federal and State Infrastructure" presented by U.S Chamber staff Jordan Crenshaw, Ed Mortimer. The near hour-long discussion focused on the need to ensure access to high-speed broadband during the COVID-pandemic so all Americans are connected, while addressing potential roadblocks to achieve this goal. The discussion shifted to the country’s infrastructure challenges while highlighting current advocacy and grassroots efforts that are underway to secure bipartisan action. A recording is now available here.
Podcasts—NASBP and NSPS discuss rural broadband
Podcasts episodes number 20 and 21 are now available through NASBP’s podcast site. Listen to NASBP and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) staff discuss their joint advocacy efforts to expand rural broadband mapping to connect all rural communities and the important role bonding plays to protect and expand opportunities for small business internet service providers (ISPs) while protecting taxpayer funds.
NASBP Resource: Interactive Maps
As a reminder, NASBP provides its membership online access to a series of interactive maps that highlight local legislative activity, bonding thresholds, and other valuable information across the United States.
The maps feature:
NASBP comment letters on bills and regulations;
A compilation of state statutes authorizing public-private partnerships;
Federal, state and local agencies that certify disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs), with hyperlinks to agency websites;
A survey of state bonding thresholds;
A list of producer licensing state agencies; and
A compilation of anti-directed surety statutes.
To learn more, access the maps and other resources at www.nasbp.org.
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