[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E595-E596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE MERGER BETWEEN THE BUILDERS' ASSOCIATION AND THE KANSAS 
    CITY CHAPTER OF THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS TO FORM THE 
                     BUILDERS, A CHAPTER OF THE AGC

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 2022

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the merging of 
The Builders' Association and the Kansas City Chapter

[[Page E596]]

of the Associated General Contractors (AGC), the two most prominent 
commercial building associations in the region. Operating as separate 
entities for nearly eighty years, The Builders' Association and the 
Kansas City Chapter of the AGC hope to better serve their respective 
members by bringing them together under one roof. With the signing of a 
ceremonial charter, the presentation of a charter certificate, and the 
unveiling of the new, unified association's logo, today marks a 
historic milestone for mid-America's construction industry. Now 
representing one of the largest commercial construction associations in 
the county, The Builders, a chapter of the AGC, is poised to advance 
the interests of the construction industry and its workers further than 
either of the original, separate entities could do on their own. As 
members from both associations gather today to recognize this important 
occasion, let us reflect on the history of The Builder's Association 
and the AGC, the profound impact they have made in the heart of 
America, and the spirit of collaboration that made this merger 
possible.
  The Builders' Association, originally known as The Builders' and 
Traders Exchange, was founded in 1887 with nearly one hundred and forty 
original members. Under the leadership of B.F. Swain, the first Board 
Chairman, and C.L. McDonald, the first managing director, The Builders' 
played a profound role in the development of Kansas City, incorporated 
just thirty-four years prior, and the midwestern United States. For 
nearly one hundred and fifty years, The Builders' have faithfully 
delivered safety, craft, and management training; employment, labor, 
and government relations; along with construction plans and technology 
tools. Today, The Builders' Association serves hundreds of member 
companies that employ over twenty-five-thousand people in mid-America. 
For these members, the services offered by The Builders' Association 
are invaluable to fostering a healthy, thriving construction industry. 
From hosting academies and seminars for individuals hoping to enter the 
industry or advance within their companies, to helping employers and 
job seekers establish mutually beneficial relationships, The Builders' 
role in supporting the commercial construction industry cannot be 
overstated. By providing young people with information and resources 
about careers in the construction industry, and by supporting the 
educational endeavors of students planning to enter construction-
related fields through The Builders' Association Scholarship 
Foundation, The Builders' have gone above and beyond to ensure a strong 
construction industry for generations to come. Moreover, The Builders' 
Training Center in North Kansas City, home to eight apprenticeship 
training programs, guarantees that tomorrow's construction will be 
carried out by welltrained and well-educated workers. And in all that 
they do, The Builders' have never failed to set the highest standards 
for workers' safety, understanding that the wellbeing of the 
construction industry depends on the wellbeing of construction workers.
  The Kansas City Chapter of the Associated General Contractors was 
chartered as a sister association to The Builders' Association in the 
early 1900s. Today, the Kansas City Chapter of the AGC represents more 
than one-hundred firms in the heartland region. Realizing the value of 
national connection and engagement offered through the Associated 
General Contractors of America, The Builders' added the option of 
membership in the AGC soon after the organization established roots in 
Kansas City. Herein lies an important observation--for nearly a 
century, The Builders' and the AGC have operated in close 
collaboration, not only sharing members and staff, but also a common 
mission and vision. However, as part of the Associated General 
Contractors of America, the largest and oldest national construction 
trade association in the United States, the Kansas City Chapter of the 
AGC has historically been able to offer greater access to resources and 
services, along with expanded opportunities to network with others in 
the industry, develop business, and create a stronger voice to advocate 
on behalf of the construction industry.
  Thus, today's merger is in keeping with decades of collaboration 
between The Builders' and the AGC, in addition to the longstanding 
commitments of both organizations to best serve the interests of their 
members and the commercial construction industry. Indeed, the One 
Builders initiative helps strengthen and solidify a sense of unity that 
has long bound The Builders' and the local AGC chapter, and in doing 
so, will enhance the industry's influence in the Kansas City region and 
throughout the nation. The Builders, a chapter of the AGC, will 
undoubtedly expand economic opportunities for the Greater Kansas City 
area and usher in a new era of prosperity for the region's construction 
industry and the thousands of workers it employs.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating the merger of The 
Builders' Association and the Kansas City Chapter of the Associated 
General Contractors to form The Builders, a chapter of the AGC.

                          ____________________