On Tuesday, Democrats notched historic victories, flipping the U.S. House and Senate and even winning several state offices long held by Republicans.
For construction, a blue Congress paints an uncertain future for certain sectors, such as the booming data center market and infrastructure.
Here’s what industry stakeholders, from employer advocacy groups to unions, had to say regarding the massive change in the balance of power in Washington, and what it portends for construction.
Impact and expectations for transit funding
Top of mind for contractors is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Funding is currently extended through Dec. 11, and Congress will need to choose to pursue either a short-term extension or passage of the BUILD America 250 Act by that deadline.
“Congress made historic progress addressing our backlog of infrastructure needs with passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, but that legislation has since expired and no funding mechanisms have taken its place,” Carol Haddock, American Society of Civil Engineers president, said in a statement shared with Construction Dive. “We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to advance America’s infrastructure priorities, modernizing the structures that support our way of life.”
Deniz Mustafa, senior director of construction advocacy at the Associated General Contractors of America noted the change in Congress could also mean a new bill that aligns with Democrat priorities, though that would still require President Donald Trump’s approval.
“It’s also likely that they will renegotiate the existing bill, so that means a potential longer timeframe until we see a transportation bill that is signed into law,” Mustafa said in a statement sent to Construction Dive. “AGC’s priority remains a robust, multiyear reauthorization that provides predictable funding, prioritizes core formula programs and gives states flexibility to address their infrastructure needs.”
Still, any legislation will have to remain bipartisan, said Dean Franks, senior vice president of congressional relations for the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, as neither party controls the 60 votes required to break a filibuster in the Senate.
“Fortunately, we expect Democratic leadership of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to use the BUILD America 250 Act, which passed the committee 62 to 2, as a foundation for the surface transportation bill they move, hopefully early, next year,” Franks said.
Union and employer legislation
Meanwhile, Associated Builders and Contractors Vice President of Government Affairs Kristen Swearingen called for bipartisan efforts to benefit construction businesses in a statement shared with Construction Dive. In particular, she called for action against legislation around worker-employer negotiations that ABC has previously described as a “disgrace.”
“ABC and its 67 chapters, 24,000 members and millions of workers are ready to work with the new House and Senate majorities, on both sides of the aisle, on real pro-worker policies that protect tax cuts for workers and small businesses and encourage fair and open competition, and to reject union-only legislation like the PRO Act and Faster Labor Contracts Act,” Swearingen said.
On the other side of the bargaining table, Jimmy Williams, general president of International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, said members of his union actively helped to elect Democrats in key elections.
“I’m proud of the work IUPAT members put in talking to union members about the stakes of this election,” Williams said in a statement shared with Construction Dive. “Our members knocked doors across the country, directly contributing to the victories of Senators-elect James Talarico in Texas and Troy Jackson in Maine, as well as many other races up and down the ballot.”
At the same time, he said winning the election was not the end goal and that IUPAT is now focused on pursuing pro-worker and pro-union legislation.
“We will not stop organizing and will work to ensure that all newly elected officials don’t take us for granted and pass the policies we so desperately need, like immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship, a fix to our broken healthcare system, and the PRO Act,” Williams said.
Though not specifically mentioning those controversial bills, Sean McGarvey, North America’s Building Trades Unions president, lauded the Democrat successes and called for policies to help workers economically.
"Unions helped build America's middle class, and the Building Trades have been and will continue to be central to rebuilding it,” McGarvey said in an official statement. “North America's Building Trades Unions stand ready to work with leaders of both parties who are serious about strengthening American industry, investing in American workers, and advancing policies that deliver lasting economic opportunity for working families. Now it's time to get to work.”
