Inside AGC CEO’s Message

March/April 2009

AGC’s Efforts Result in Billions for Infrastructure

Industry readies to build for the future

By AGC CEO Steve Sandherr

On Feb. 17, months of work on the part of AGC of America, its nationwide network of chapters and its members culminated in a stimulus plan that includes nearly $140 billion in investment in the nation’s highways, bridges, schools, public buildings and water infrastructure. Our efforts will bring work back to the industry and put construction workers back on the job.

Over the past few months, AGC’s members generated nearly 16,000 letters to House and Senate leaders through the Legislative Action Center. AGC’s government affairs team sent several letters to the Hill, and worked with AGC members and other industry experts to provide testimony in six congressional hearings.

We worked with existing coalition partners and created new ones where needed in order to make our case. We placed five advertisements in Roll Call, Capitol Hill’s most widely read newspaper, advocating for investment in infrastructure and public buildings, and our petition generated more than 3,000 names in support of our cause.

Our efforts were mighty because the need was so great. The construction industry lost nearly one million jobs since its peak in September 2006. Our members informed us that without a stimulus, they would surely lay off more workers, if not close their doors altogether. We met the challenge by ensuring that we told anyone who would listen about the dire state of the industry.

We made countless visits to Capitol Hill and put the media in touch with AGC members while our chief economist, Ken Simonson, traveled nationwide, making the case for infrastructure and explaining how additional funding could put people back to work.

AGC’s countless media mentions over the past several months, coupled with the voices of our members and AGC’s lobbyists, have led us to one of the greatest opportunities for the industry in many years.

President Obama and Congress entrusted our industry to put people back to work rebuilding America’s infrastructure. As the stimulus funds begin to flow, we will work directly with our chapters and members and with federal agencies to ensure the process is fast and efficient. With the goal of creating work as quickly as possible, this must be our first priority.

AGC of America will carefully track our progress as we rebuild our crumbling roads and bridges, rebuild schools and public buildings, repair levees and replace water systems. We want to show America that the industry came through for us once again by giving the nation the tools we need to compete globally and stimulate the economy.