More than 400 ABC members came to Capitol Hill June 23-26 for ABC's 2015 Legislative Conference. The week kicked off with the first annual Diversity & Inclusion Summit, which featured a lively discussion about supplier diversity within the construction industry. The event also included a Legislative Breakfast, which featured a panel discussion on key issues facing the industry and a day on the Hill where ABC members had the chance to meet with their representatives in the House and the Senate.

Associated Builders and Contractors of West Virginia (ABCWV) voiced its concerns over the newly presented methodology for the calculation of prevailing wage rates in West Virginia after Workforce West Virginia released a summary of its report on June 1. The report, a product of prevailing wage reform legislation (S.B. 361) signed  March 12 by West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D), illustrates how new methodology will determine  forthcoming prevailing wage rates on state-funded public improvements.  However, because Workforce West Virginia failed to publish its new prevailing wage calculations by the July 1 deadline because lawmakers complained t

ABC launched two new discount programs July 1 that are available to both ABC members and their employees. The programs include discounts with AutoZone and a new portal, ABC Marketplace, which provides discounts on everyday purchases with more than 20,000 retailers.

What's your best strategy or tool for delivering construction projects on, or under, budget? Send your 200-word response to Construction Executive to be featured in the magazine's September Viewpoints Q&A section or on ConstructionExec.com. 

At its first annual Diversity & Inclusion Summit, ABC brought together business owners, industry executives and ABC members from across the country to network and to explore why supplier diversity is key to the growth and the future of the construction industry. With more than 100 people in attendance, the summit sparked an open and honest conversation about why it’s important to embrace a diverse business culture and the value it provides businesses and the community.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued “A Guide to Restroom Access for Transgender Workers” June 1, which provides employers guidance on best practices regarding restroom access for transgender employees. The publication includes information on OSHA’s Sanitation Standard, Model Practices, and state and local laws regarding restroom access.  

ABC member companies are full of talented, innovative and hardworking employees—many of whom are still in the early stages of their careers. As the future generation of business leaders and executives, young professionals in the construction industry are very important to ABC and its members. That is why ABC wants to honor them and recognize the leading young professionals in the association with the new Young Professional of the Year Award. 

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (H.R. 2685) June 11 without an ABC-opposed provision that would unfairly harm federal contractors and increase costs to taxpayers and the federal government.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regulatory agenda was released on May 21 and lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release this year. The most recent agenda focuses on overtime requirements, the persuader rule and more. 

As part of a coalition, ABC submitted comments June 15 to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Department of Education (DOE) on proposed rules for the implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). ABC and the coalition offered its input in a number of areas where the public workforce system under WIOA can be better aligned with the needs of employers.