The General Services Administration’s construction budget for fiscal year 2015 passed by the House this month includes cuts in both new construction and renovation/repairs compared to 2014. The agency would have about $420 million, or 17% less, for new projects and will have $965 million, or 3.5% less, for renovation and repair projects, according to the House bill.
The House bill would fund projects at the Calexico and San Ysidro land ports of entry in California, and the Alexandria Bay land port of entry in New York. The legislation contains no funding in 2015 for the continued construction of the new Department of Homeland Security’s consolidated headquarters on the campus of the former St. Elizabeth’s hospital in southeast Washington, D.C. President Obama’s proposed budget increases funding for that project.
A new Coast Guard headquarters, the first phase of the St. Elizabeth’s project, was completed and occupied by the Coast Guard last year. But years of budget cuts and delays have caused a dramatic drop in Congressional support for the multi-billion dollar project that would bring more than 14,000 employees to the campus.
Related Stories
| Oct 8, 2013
ConsensusDocs offers online prequalification management application to boost industry efficiency
In collaboration with ConsensusDocs, iSqFt has launched a new online platform designed to make the prequalification process for contractors and subcontractors seeking new work more efficient.
| Oct 8, 2013
Government shutdown closes E-Verify, could hamper construction hiring
E-Verify, the online federal program used to check the immigration status of prospective hires, has been closed due to the federal government shutdown.
| Oct 3, 2013
Florida contractors worry that regulations will hamper their ability to hire
Regulations such as the E-Verify rule and the Affordable Care Act could hinder contractors from hiring additional workers, according to some Florida contractors.
| Oct 3, 2013
Fall protection violations top OSHA citations list
Violations of fall-protection standards in fiscal 2013 are again the most frequent source of citations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to its top 10 list.
| Oct 3, 2013
Arizona utility pushes for change in building codes to boost efficiency on all commercial projects
Many large construction projects in Arizona are going green by paying attention to energy efficiency, but smaller buildings that are often rented out haven't yet jumped on the bandwagon.
| Oct 3, 2013
Bipartisan energy efficiency bill stalled; may not be revived this year
The Senate spent the first two weeks of September trying to pass bipartisan energy efficiency legislation, commonly known as Shaheen-Portman (S. 1392) that would have impacted building codes.
| Oct 3, 2013
LEED credential exams will feature LEED v4 material beginning next spring
The LEED Professional Credential exams for the LEED Green Associate and LEED AP with specialty designations will feature LEED v4 material beginning in late spring 2014.
| Sep 26, 2013
Ballot period on National CAD Standards open until Oct. 13
The Ballot Comment Period to update the nation’s leading computer-aided design (CAD) standard is now open.
| Sep 26, 2013
OSHA encourages comments on respirable crystalline silica rules
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s proposed rulemaking for respirable crystalline silica has been published in the Federal Register.
| Sep 26, 2013
EPA’s final rule on updated ASTM standard likely to be withdrawn
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to withdraw a direct final ruleissued in Augustregarding an ASTM standard for Phase I Environmental Site.
