After receiving a letter from ABC and 40 other leading business organizations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have extended the public comment period for the proposed “Waters of the U.S” rule from July 21, to Oct 20.

More than 400 hundred ABC members are on Capitol Hill this week advocating for important merit shop issues with their members of Congress. For those members unable to make the trip, there is still an opportunity to participate virtually by contacting their elected officials from a computer or mobile device using ABC's Action App on your iPhone or Android, or downloading the update.

In addition to providing updates on numerous OSHA rulemakings and the controversial proposal to narrow the “advice” exemption for persuaders and other labor relations advisors, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released updated timeframes for pending rules addressing apprenticeship, affirmative action and the classification of independent contractors. In addition, the agency laid out for the first time its plan to issue a new proposed rule regarding overtime eligibility.

ABC of Michigan praised the state’s legislature for passing language that will deter public universities from engaging in unionizing activities by requiring neutrality as a part of the 2014/2015 Higher Education budget recommendation which is expected to receive final legislative approval.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has issued a survey requesting comments from the construction industry on the potential use of a project labor agreement (PLA) for the Defense Logistic Agency Aviation Phase I project in Richmond, Va.

The Green Building Initiative (GBI) announced June 4 that ABC National’s headquarters office in Washington, D.C. is one of the first buildings to be certified under its new Green Globes for Sustainable Interiors (SI) program.

ABC of Michigan May 28 released its intention to carefully review and appeal the decision made by the Michigan Court of Appeals to reinstate Lansing’s prevailing wage ordinance. ABC of Michigan originally challenged the mandate in 2012.

President Obama is expected to sign into law H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) next week that would authorize an array of large-scale federal water infrastructure projects including port improvements, environmental restorations and more than 20 new Army Corps of Engineers projects.

On April 21, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a proposed rule that aims to clarify the definition of “waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act which would significantly expand federal control of land and water resources across the nation – creating additional permitting and regulatory requirements. The public has until July 21 to submit written comments on the proposal; ABC as part of the Waters Advocacy Coalition (WAC) requested the agency grant an extension on the comment period.

STEP Platinum and Diamond recipients that would like to participate in the 2014 Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) Construction Industry Safety Excellence (CISE) awards must submit their applications to ABC by July 7.