NASBP Focal Point - June 12, 2020

Eleven state legislatures are currently in session: California, Colorado, Delaware, Federal, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

Territories: Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

*Click here for a complete 2020 calendar of the state’s original legislative session dates.

In This Issue

Federal Report
Reauthorizing the Surface Transportation Program; Rural Broadband
COVID-19 Impact
States; Construction Industry

Federal Report:

Reauthorizing the Surface Transportation Program; Rural Broadband

On June 9, legislation was introduced to reauthorize the surface transportation programs funded through the end of fiscal 2020 under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST Act). The legislation, H.R 7095, (section-by-section summary) titled the “Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act,” or “INVEST in America Act,” authorizes $494 billion over five years for highway, transit, and rail programs, including $411 billion from the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which would be a 46% increase over current levels. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman, Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4 ^th), has scheduled a markup on June 17 with a possible floor vote by the July 4 recess. H.R. 7095 also provides funding for infrastructure programs to address climate change, which is an issue Democrats have championed for several years. The Committee released the funding tables detailing the specific dollar amounts each state would receive for highway and transit programs each year.

In August 2019, you may recall that the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works (EPW) conducted a markup session and unanimously approved (21-0) a five-year, $287-billion highway bill, S. 2302, which included a 27% increase over the 2015 FAST ACT. However, the full Senate has yet to act on the legislation because it needs approval from three additional Senate committees with jurisdiction over the reauthorization, including the Finance Committee which is responsible for a revenue title.

Legislation to provide funding for rural broadband, H.R. 7022, was introduced last week. Thus far, the bill has 25 cosponsors. The legislation is the product of the Clyburn Rural Broadband Task Force whose members are comprised of seventeen House members
representing rural districts. Over the past several months, NASBP and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) have met with nearly all of the offices who serve on the Clyburn Task Force as well as Senate offices where members serve on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation and EPW Committees to stress the importance of accurate base-level mapping data and surety bond requirements for construction projects dedicated to rural broadband deployment.

Finally, last week, NASBP signed on to a letter, urging the White House to support the need for immediate infusion of $49.95 billion in federal spending for state departments of transportation in the next COVID-19 response legislation.

To stay up to date on NASBP’s efforts through the COVID-19 pandemic, please follow along here.

COVID-19 Impact:

States; Construction Industry

Here are a few points of note since the global outbreak of coronavirus:

Over 185 bills have been introduced in 42 state legislatures, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia on paid sick leave and worker protections as well as appropriations requests.
Over 300 executive actions have been issued in 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands related to declarations of states of emergency, school closures, prohibition of mass gatherings, retail and business closures and restrictions, and stay at home orders.
Over 1,200 executive actions have been issued in total.
Over 20 state task forces have been established by 12 governors.
Over 30 states and the District of Columbia have issued emergency COVID-19 regulations on a number of issues, including (but not limited to) health insurance carriers, labor and wage, and medical licensure.
Sixty-nine legislative chambers have either temporarily adjourned, moved to virtual meetings, or announced an early recess or sine die.

According to analysis from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) , construction employment made a significant rebound in May by 464,000 jobs. However, with the industry’s unemployment rate was still 12.7% for the month, which is the highest rate for May since 2012.

NASBP will continue to furnish updated information as it becomes available.

Have you provided your written authorization for 2020 for SuretyPAC? If not, click below!

Surety PAC

Have you been asked to conduct a bonding awareness seminar? If so, download the Bonding Awareness Toolkit!

Toolkit

The National Association of Surety Bond Producers

www.nasbp.org

Focal Point is an e-bulletin sent to members and friends of the
National Association of Surety Bond Producers
when most state legislatures are in session and as needed thereafter. To obtain copies of Bills or other materials discussed above, contact
advocacy@nasbp.org
. Copyright © 2020. NASBP. All rights reserved.