CAGC Leaders Hit Capitol Hill to Push for Workforce Shortage Relief

By: Dave Simpson, CAGC President & CEO - September 24, 2025

The five officers of Carolinas AGC’s Board of Directors joined CAGC staff in Washington, D.C., last week for AGCA’s Annual National Chapter & Leadership Conference (NCLC) and to meet with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives from NC and SC to discuss issues important to the construction industry, including:

Relief for the workforce shortage crisis, our top challenge.
Immigration reform such as creating a guest program to help provide workforce relief.
Protecting Contractors from Unfair Risk & Liability, particularly for the so-called forever chemicals.
More Career Technical Education funding for the construction trades.

Ty Edmondson, chair of the CAGC Board of Directors, said the time on Capitol Hill was well spent, as CAGC representatives met with six of the seven members of Congress face-to-face in their visits to some of the offices of the NC and SC delegations.

“What AGC of America is doing to help improve the commercial construction business climate for the Carolinas and the nation is amazing,” Edmondson said. “CAGC was well-represented with our five Officers explaining, in simple construction terms, how important these complex issues are to our industry.”

CAGC Board Officers and Staff Converge on Capitol

Carolinas AGC's Executive Board Members and Staff pose in front of the U.S. Capitol Building.

CAGC Staff and Board Members meet with Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC)

Carolinas AGC Board Members and Staff met with several representatives from North and South Carolina including Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) (above) to discuss workforce relief, immigration reform, protecting contractors from unfair liability, and boosting career & technical education funding for the trades.

DC Trip Highlights

CAGC Staff and Board Members meet with Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC, District 5)

From left to right: Carolinas AGC Board Vice Chair Paul Edwards, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC, 5^th District), and Carolinas AGC Immediate Past Chair Dean Wilson.

CAGC Staff and Board Members meet with Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC, District 5)

Carolinas AGC Executive Board Members and Staff met with Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC, 5^th District)

CAGC Staff and Board Members meet with Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC, District 7)

Carolinas AGC Executive Board Members and Staff met with Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC, 7^th District).

Attendees at the NCLC on Sept. 14-16 included the following CAGC members and CAGC and AGC Staff: Ty Edmondson, T.A. Loving Company; Chair Elect Lynn Hansen, Crowder Constructors, Inc.; Treasurer Marty Moser, Barnhill Contracting; Vice Chair Paul Edwards, Reeves Construction Company; Immediate Past Chair Dean Wilson, Hood Construction Company, Inc.; Dave Simpson, CAGC President & CEO; and John Chambers, AGC Director of the Utility Infrastructure Division. Nearly 300 attendees participated in the three-day event, representing AGC’s 87 chapters across the nation.

Highlights of the trip featured CAGC visits on Capitol Hill with:

U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC, 5^th District), Chair of the House Rules Committee and Past Chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee
NC Senators Tedd Budd (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC)
SC Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC, 6^th District)
NC Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC, 7^th District)
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC, 5^th District)
Staff members in the office of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

CAGC Staff and Board Members meet with Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC, District 6)

Carolinas AGC Executive Board Members and Staff met with Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC, 6thDistrict).

CAGC Board Members, Staff and their Spouses in Washington DC

From left to right: CAGC Board Chair Elect Lynn Hansen, CAGC Immediate Past Chair Dean Wilson. CAGC Board Chair Ty Edmondson and wife Kimberly Edmondson, CAGC President & CEO Dave Simpson, CAGC Board Treasurer Marty Moser and wife Heather Moser, and CAGC Board Vice Chair Paul Edwards.

Lincoln Memorial