AGC’s Executive Committee travelled to Washington DC last week for the National and Chapter Leadership Conference and to visit with the Washington State Congressional delegation and discuss issues important to the industry. Among the issues discussed were:
PLAs: AGC of Washington members made the point that Congress should avoid acquisition rules that raise costs, discourage competition and delay project delivery, like mandating Project Labor Agreements on large-scale federal construction projects. AGC strongly believes that the choice of whether to adopt a collective bargaining agreement should be left to the contractor-employers and their employees, and that such a choice should not be imposed as a condition to competing for, or performing on, a publicly funded project. Specifically, Congress should pass H.R.2126/S.1064, The Fair and Open Competition Act, which would preserve open competition and federal government neutrality towards the labor relations of federal government contractors on federal and federally funded construction projects.
PFAS: The contractors told policymakers that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) designation of PFOA/PFAS “forever chemicals” as Superfund “hazardous substances” creates strict, retroactive liability for non-polluting contractors, with unclear standards driving up disposal and insurance costs. Congress should protect innocent contractors from PFAS liability and share costs fairly: require public owners to retain liability and share PFAS costs; mandate pre-construction testing and specify approved disposal options; and direct EPA to set a national background level and clear handling standards.
Workforce: AGC members noted that the industry continues to face severe labor shortages, with 92 percent of firms reporting difficulty finding qualified workers, according to a 2025 AGC Survey. A major cause of the skill shortage is decades of education policies that have prioritized four-year degrees as the primary career pathway, leaving other workforce development options underfunded. The contractors advocated for, among other things, increased Career and Technical Education (CTE) Funding via the Perkins Act, the main federal program supporting career and technical education.
Transportation: To deliver projects on time, protect workers, and maximize taxpayer dollars, the contractors said Congress must provide stable, long-term investment before September 2026. That means strengthening the Highway Trust Fund HTF), prioritizing formula funding, streamlining environmental reviews, and advancing work zone safety. Congress should ensure all users of the system contribute to the Highway Trust Fund by
passing S.536/H.R. 1253, the Fair SHARE Act, that would ensure that electric vehicles owners contribute to the HTF.
Photo 1: AGC members and staff meet with Sen. Maria Cantwell. From left, Bryan White (Acme Concrete Paving, Inc.); AGC of WA Executive Vice President David D’Hondt; Grace Pizzey (Holaday Parks, Inc.); Scott Willms (Shamrock Paving, Inc.); Sen. Cantwell; Inland Northwest AGC Executive Director Cheryl Stewart; Jeff Tiegs (Lincoln Construction); Bryan Kelley (Howard S. Wright); AGC Chief Lobbyist Jerry VanderWood.
Photo 2: AGC meets with Rep. Kim Schrier. From left, AGC Chief Lobbyist Jerry VanderWood; AGC of WA Executive Vice President David D’Hondt; Grace Pizzey (Holaday Parks, Inc.); Jeff Tiegs (Lincoln Construction); Rep. Schrier; Bryan Kelley (Howard S. Wright).
Photo 3: Rep. Rick Larsen (far left) meets with Grace Pizzey (Holaday Parks, Inc.); Scott Willms (Shamrock Paving, Inc.); AGC Chief Lobbyist Jerry VanderWood; Bryan Kelley (Howard S. Wright).