The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Stephen E. Sandherr, released a statement in reaction to Democrats winning control of the US House of Representatives while Republicans continue to control the US Senate.
“We congratulate all the winners from tonight’s election and look forward to having the opportunity to educate newly elected members about the construction industry’s many contributions to our broader economic prosperity,” Sandherr said.
“We are eager to work with the new Congress to ensure its members focus on enacting measures that will further contribute to economic growth. Our top priority will be helping both parties come together to enact the kind of significant new infrastructure measures the President has long promised. This is an issue that leaders in both parties have expressed support for and we expect them to make infrastructure a top priority early in the new year.”
Sandherr also said the association will work with Congress to double, over the next five years, federal investments in career and technical education.
“Our economy is producing too many underemployed college graduates and too few people with the skills needed to pursue high-paying construction careers,” Sandherr said. “And we will continue to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that secures our nation’s borders, addresses the undocumented workers already here and establishes a new guest worker visa program for construction.”