On Jan. 22, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published new procedures for processing H-2B visa applications following this year’s significant increase in labor certification bids. Due to the spike in applications filed on Jan. 1, 2018, the DOL Employment and Training Administration’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification will now process these applications in order of the time of day they were received to “better reflect the sequential order in which employers filed applications.”

ABC and a coalition of construction and business associations sent President Trump a letter urging him to eliminate government-mandated project labor agreements on federal and federally assisted projects, allowing all qualified contractors and Americans to fairly compete to build and work on these taxpayer-funded projects.

On Jan. 22, President Trump signed a stopgap spending bill (H.R.195) to end the government shutdown and fund government operations through Feb. 8. Included in the bill was a suspension for 2019 of the health insurance tax (HIT) on providers included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 

Construction Executive magazine, published by ABC, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year with the launch of its new and improved website, ConstructionExec.com, and a new digital newsletter, CE This Week. Readers can now access a variety of articles posted daily that pertain to all facets of the construction industry: safety, insurance, technology, surety bonding, regulatory, craft training, leadership, fleet management, business development, economic trends and more.

ABC is reminding its contractor member firms that their 2017 Occupational Safety and Health Administration Form 300A work-related injury and illness log summaries must be posted in a visible spot on all construction sites Feb. 1 through April 30.

On Jan. 12, President Trump announced his intent to nominate John F. Ring to be a member of the National Labor Relations Board. Ring is a partner at the law firm of Morgan Lewis & Bockius and co-leader of the firm’s labor/management relations practice. If confirmed, Ring will reinstate a Republican majority on the board; the current board is deadlocked at 2-2, following former Chairman Phil Miscimarra’s departure in December.

U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta delivered the keynote address at the Associated Builders and Contractors of West Virginia (ABCWV) 22nd Annual Winter Meeting at the Greenbrier Resort and Hotel, Jan. 11-14. “We were certainly excited to hear from the secretary on matters critical to the growth and development of West Virginia’s labor force,” said ABCWV President & CEO Bryan Hoylman.

The Clean Power Plan proposed and finalized during the Obama administration would increase electricity costs by $40.5 billion while reducing the GDP by an average of $59 billion each year, cutting more than 375,000 jobs by 2030, ABC told the Environmental Protection Agency on Jan. 16. ABC submitted comments in support of the agency’s proposed rule to repeal the 2015 rule.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced that covered employers can now electronically report their calendar year 2017 Form 300A data through OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application (ITA). Covered establishments are required to submit the information by July 1, 2018. Learn which establishments are covered by this requirement and need to provide their 2017 data through OSHA’s ITA.

Standard Constructors Inc. of Houston, a member of ABC’s Greater Houston 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.