Industry News and Advocacy
Update on the 2026 Surface Transportation Bill
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has not held a markup on its portion of the surface transportation reauthorization bill, marking the latest delay in its long-anticipated reauthorization. Committee Chair Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) indicated the House panel is now aiming to consider the legislation later this month, possibly even the week of May 18. However, the text of the bill has not yet been released and negotiations remain ongoing.
Lawmakers face a Sept. 30 deadline to reauthorize expiring surface programs. With repeated delays and the House schedule many observers now expect Congress will pass this fall a short-term extension of current authorities to avoid disruption. A key sticking point continues to be the legislation’s top-line funding level. Graves has expressed interest in a range of $500 billion to $550 billion, while Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) is pushing for a higher number. Bipartisan discussions between the two leaders are continuing as they work to bridge the gap. For our industry, these developments underscore the need for sustained advocacy to ensure a robust, long-term reauthorization that delivers certainty for highway, bridge, and transit projects.
NUCA Opposes Gas Tax Holiday Proposal
NUCA and our transportation coalition partners are strongly opposed to proposals under discussion by the Trump Administration and Congress to suspend the federal gas tax. Such plans would have limited, if any, impact on consumer prices, and risk driving up costs on projects designed to improve every community across the country.
“The federal gas tax is the foundation of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which supports the nation’s transportation improvements,” wrote NUCA and TCC in a letter sent to all members of Congress. “Using it as a political tool is a disservice to those who depend on reliable, well-maintained road, bridge and transit systems.” NUCA and the TCC encourage Congress to focus on legislation that will address affordability: timely passage of a surface transportation reauthorization bill.
Tariff Refund Portal Website Open
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) said U.S. businesses that paid tariffs that the Supreme Court recently ruled were illegal could start applying for refunds on April 20. CBP launched the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) portal through their Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system. Companies applying for the refund must submit what’s known as a “CAPE declaration” (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries), which CBP says will streamline the “submission and processing of valid refund requests for duties imposed” under the Trump Administration.
The system requires importers and authorized brokers to file claims for duties paid that should see them being refunded within 60-90 days of their application. 330,000 importers paid estimated duties of about $166 billion on approximately 53 million items as of March 4, according to the CBP. But as of April 9 only about 56,500 of these importers owed refunds had completed enrollment for electronic payment.
Association News
Your NUCA membership delivers business benefits that will help your bottom line. Are you or your employees taking advantage of them?
Safety & Damage Prevention Conference: Registration Now Open, Sept. 15-18
Don’t miss your chance to join the industry’s top safety professionals at the NUCA Safety & Damage Prevention Conference, September 15-18, 2026, at the iconic Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.
Immerse yourself in three powerful days of timely discussions designed to tackle the real challenges facing utility construction today. The agenda features critical sessions on transportation accidents, risk management, mental health in the workplace, the latest OSHA updates, emergency preparedness, rethinking trench safety (presented with NUCA National Partner United Rentals), a compelling panel on drugs in the industry, and a fresh 811 update.
This year’s conference shines a spotlight on the most pressing safety and damage prevention issues impacting our industry. You’ll gain actionable insights, practical strategies, and fresh ideas to strengthen safety practices and reduce incidents back at your company. Connect and recharge during two dynamic networking events, including the prestigious STAR Award presentation. Whether you’re looking to stay ahead of regulations, protect your team, or drive real improvement in damage prevention, this is the must-attend event of the year. Register today at nuca.com/safety-damage-prevention-conference/ and secure your spot in Louisville!
NUCA Assurance: Get more control over your business insurance program
Join like-minded NUCA contractors who have taken control of their claims, managed their risk, and secured better, more focused insurance services for their businesses. NUCA Assurance is a construction-focused group captive owned by NUCA members and designed by insurance experts to deliver the claims control and risk-management support smart construction business owners need. This cost-effective association benefit helps your company purchase workers’ compensation, general liability, and auto liability insurance. Find out how to get more control over your utility construction company’s insurance needs by starting at NUCAAssurance.com.
NUCA Benefits: The expanded NUCA Advantage member benefits program
Your NUCA membership investment can deliver benefits far in excess of its cost — but only if you ask your human resources office to explore what it offers. Start by forwarding this document to them and ask them to check out NUCA Advantage. Our online portal leads to expanded health care benefits options for your company, as well as payroll, wellness, compliance, benefits administration, 401K programs, online training, OSHA logs and a wealth of free HR benefits available only to NUCA members. Find our expanded NUCA Advantage benefits program at www.NUCAAdvantage.com.
NUCA Benefits: Why NUCA Members Should Rethink Their 401(k) Strategy
Managing a 401(k) plan often creates more work than it should especially for NUCA members already stretched thin. That’s why NUCA has now partnered with Voya, AMP Administrator, and Greenline Wealth Management to create the Voyager 401(k) Pooled Employer Plan (PEP), built specifically for utility contractors and their employees.
Voyager simplifies plan administration by pooling multiple NUCA companies into a single structure unlocking access to economies of scale and service. Greenline also conducts a no-cost benchmarking review for NUCA members to identify savings and help reduce fiduciary liability through full outsourcing. Whether you’re offering a plan today or considering one for the first time, Voyager offers a compliant, cost-effective solution designed around your construction business. Schedule your free plan review today by calling 561-405-6609 (option 7), or email info@greenlinewm.com.
NUCA Benefits: NUCA-WINS–Now Featuring AI-Powered Report Generation
We’re excited to announce a major new feature in NUCA-WINS — AI-Powered Report Generation! With this new tool, you can now generate detailed reports instantly using natural language. NUCA-WINS new AI report generator understands your request in plain English and produces accurate, ready-to-share results in seconds — no need for filters, formulas or complex queries. Each report may be immediately exported to your choice of a PDF, CSV or Excel file. This means you can now get insights faster, save hours on manual report prep and share data-driven updates instantly with your team.
It’s live now! Just log in to your NUCA-WINS account and look for the “AI Reports” button in your “Outputs” section. Go to www.nucawins.com to start today.
