Issue 72
March 2022
Architecture Department Head Elevated to AIA College of Fellows
By Texas A&M Department of Architecture Exceptional contributions to architecture, design education, and society have elevated Greg Luhan, head of the Texas A&M Department of Architecture, to membership in the prestigious American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows, a distinction held by only three percent of AIA members. An investiture ceremony for Luhan and this…
Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design Alumni Spotlight: Crystal Y. Granger ’04
By Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design Name: Crystal Y. Granger Hometown: Houston, Texas Major: Master of Architecture Graduation Year: 2004 Employer: Independent Contractor with Vergel Gay & Associates Title: Senior Project Manager & Design Consultant Why did you choose the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, and what drew you…
Congress Again Works To Meet Government Funding Deadline
After passing a short-term three-week extension of government funding in February, Congress is again faced with an impending deadline to fund the government by March 11. This gives lawmakers a week to finalize and pass a full fiscal year (FY) 2022 funding package that would set new spending levels for the year after multiple continuations…
Construction Industry Adds 60,000 Jobs in February as Hourly Wages Post Steepest Rise Since 1982; Competition for Workers Expected To Intensify 
Construction employment climbed by 60,000 jobs between January and February as hourly pay rose at the steepest pace in nearly 40 years, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association leaders urged officials in Washington to boost support for career training and education to enable more…
Construction Spending Rose in January From December and January 2021
Construction spending increased in January compared to both December and a year ago, with strong gains in private nonresidential and residential construction but mixed results for public spending, according to an analysis of federal spending data the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association leaders urged Washington officials to speed the award of funds…
Large Public Power Council Welcomes Austin Energy General Manager Jackie Sargent as New Chair
The Large Public Power Council (LPPC) is pleased to announce Jackie Sargent, General Manager of Austin Energy, and Tom Falcone, CEO of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), have been elected as the organization’s Chair and Vice-Chair, respectfully. Sargent and Falcone will join LPPC President John Di Stasio in advocating for policies that support America’s…
API Letter Calls on Biden Administration to Support American Energy Leadership
Ahead of the State of the Union Address, American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Mike Sommers sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm and other administration officials outlining steps key regulatory agencies should take to ensure long-term American energy leadership and security at a time of increased geopolitical volatility. “Recent…
9 in 10 U.S. Voters Support American Energy Production Over-Reliance on Foreign Energy: New API Poll
Ahead of the State of the Union Address, API President and CEO Mike Sommers highlighted the importance of American energy leadership as both geopolitical volatility and energy costs rise. API also released new polling by Morning Consult that found 90 percent of American voters support the U.S. developing its own domestic energy resources rather than…
Railroad Commissioners Applaud Major Oil Companies Cutting Ties With Russian Oil Companies, Encourage Others To Do the Same
By Subcontractors USA News Provider Recently, major oil and gas companies, such as British Petroleum and Shell, have announced their divestment of ownership in Russian oil and gas companies such as Rosneft. RRC commissioners firmly support these actions and strongly encourage all Western oil and gas companies to similarly cut ties with any Russian oil…
API Statement on US Ban of Russian Crude Oil and Refined Products
By Subcontractors USA News Provider American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Mike Sommers issued the following statement following an announcement from the White House to ban imports of Russian crude oil and refined products into the United States. “We support the US government and our allies in their collective efforts against Russia’s unprovoked invasion…
API Publishes First-Edition Document Enhancing Safety of Onshore Drilling and Production
By Subcontractors USA News Provider Today the American Petroleum Institute (API) published an important first-edition document focused on improving the safety of onshore drilling and production operations. API Bulletin 16H, Automated Safety Instrumented Systems for Onshore Blowout Preventer Actuation, is the first upstream document that provides information on existing and emerging technologies to bring a…
OSHA Publishes Interim Final Rule for Handling Retaliation Complaints Under the Taxpayer First Act
By Subcontractors USA News Provider The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently published an interim final rule establishing procedures and time frames for handling employee retaliation complaints under the Taxpayer First Act. The Taxpayer First Act, enacted July 1, 2019, protects employees who report underpayment of taxes or other potential federal…
U.S. Department of Labor Announces $3.2M in Susan Harwood Grants For Workplace Safety, Health Training on Infectious Diseases, Including COVID-19
By Subcontractors USA News Provider The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently announced the availability of $3.2 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for Susan Harwood Workplace Safety and Health Training on Infectious Diseases, Including COVID-19 grants. The grants will fund training and education to help…
U.S. Department of Labor Announces Enforcement, Effort for Focused Inspections in Hospitals, Nursing Care Facilities Treating COVID-19 Patients
By Subcontractors USA News Provider For two years, millions of the nation’s healthcare workers have been battling the coronavirus. Many have endangered themselves as they care for those who contract COVID-19 while working in high-risk settings that expose themselves and their families. As the nation moves to the next phase of the pandemic, the U.S….
4 Pillars to De-Risk Permitting on P3 Projects
By Helen Callier, Contributing Writer More cities and counties in the U.S. are exploring Public-private partnerships (P3s) as an economically creative way to build infrastructure and buildings which allow them to meet the demands of their growing communities. Several years ago, public entities were hesitant to leverage P3s, especially when hearing about projects that did…
DART Board Chair Michele Wong Krause Selected as 2022 Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation Award Winner
By Subcontractors USA News Provider Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board Chair Michele Wong Krause has been selected by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) as a 2022 Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation Award winner. The Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation Award is one of the highest honors bestowed by COMTO and…
Sanjay Ramabhadran Takes the Helm as New Chair of METRO Board of Directors
By Subcontractors USA News Provider Another historic leadership transition has come to the METRO Board. Recently, METRO’s Board of Directors unanimously approved Mayor Sylvester Turner’s board chair nomination and welcomed Sanjay Ramabhadran (pronounced Rahm-bud-run) to lead the agency’s nine-member Board. Ramabhadran has been on the board since May 2015. Still, his appointment is notable as…
Port Houston Executive Roger Guenther Named to The International Maritime Hall of Fame
By Subcontractors USA News Provider Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther has been named to the International Maritime Hall of Fame, as announced Monday by the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey (MAPONY/NJ). Guenther will be among six global shipping leaders who “all have shown unwavering leadership and dedication to…
Issue 71
February 2022