The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has begun to take action on two Obama-era regulations that were consistently opposed by ABC. In a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta announced he will issue a Request for Information (RFI) in order to collect information from the public on the overtime rule. The RFI will likely act as the first step in issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, a process that would change or rescind the rule permanently. 

To celebrate Workforce Development Week, June 12-16, the Trump administration planned a full schedule of events as a backdrop to discuss the growing demand for skilled labor, address the need to fill six million jobs and expand apprenticeship programs across the country. On June 12, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta released a memorandum asking other agencies to support President Trump’s apprenticeship initiative by reducing regulations on these programs.

Last week, President Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, launched the White House’s Infrastructure Week and revealed several high-level details on the administration’s forthcoming infrastructure package. 

In the lead-up to Legislative Week, ABC is working with Washington, D.C.-based news radio powerhouse WTOP to help tell the organization's story to Congress, the administration and federal agencies.  The Building America thought leadership series includes a mix of radio commercials, website ads, video features and digital content that highlight ABC’s commitment to workforce development, safety and the merit shop philosophy.

On June 7, Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta announced the withdrawal of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) 2015 and 2016 joint employment and independent contractor informal guidance. According to a DOL press release, “removal of the administrator interpretations does not change the legal responsibilities of employers under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, as reflected in the department’s long-standing regulations and case law.”  

ABC today announced that Vice President Mike Pence will deliver the keynote address at its Legislative Day on June 22 at 9:30 a.m. He will speak to member construction contractors gathered for ABC Legislative Week 2017 before they head to Capitol Hill for meetings with lawmakers.

Crossland Construction Co. of Columbus, Kan., a member of ABC’s Heart of America Chapter, has been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC. The AQC program recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to excellence in five key areas of corporate responsibility: quality, safety, employee benefits, training and community relations.

A study released today by the Beacon Hill Institute found that Ohio schools built under government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) cost 13.12 percent more than schools that were bid and constructed through fair and open competition, free from PLA requirements. The study looked at 88 schools built in Ohio since 2000 and found that those built under a PLA mandate cost $23.12 more per square foot than projects built without PLA mandates.

On May 24, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report with estimates on the costs and overall effect of H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act. This is the third report to come from the CBO since the bill was introduced in March. If the U.S. Senate passes the bill in its current form, the CBO estimates that the bill would reduce the federal deficit by $119 bil

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