On April 12, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota issued a ruling blocking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers from enforcing a final rule published by the agencies on Jan. 18 that revises the definition of Waters of the United States. The ruling was the result of a lawsuit brought by

On April 4, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court ruled that a commission authorized by New Jersey and Pennsylvania law to build and maintain Delaware River bridges lacked the authority to require controversial project labor agreements.

For over 30 years, ABC has helped contractors protect the physical safety of their employees on the jobsite through the STEP Safety Management System. Now the association is expanding on STEP with the introduction of the Total Human Health Initiative, or THHI. THHI “encompasses actions, initiatives and policies that emphasize the health, well-being and livelihoods of workers … [it incorporates] a whole-person approach to engage a person’s body, mind, heart and soul.”

On April 4, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service released additional guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act’s energy communities program bonus tax credits, which are in effect in advance of forthcoming proposed regulations that will implement the credits for all taxable years ending after April 4, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is hosting the webinar, “Best Practices to Prevent and Address Workplace Retaliation” on Friday, April 14, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET for employers and employer groups. This webinar will highlight best practices as informed by the enforcement and compliance assistance efforts of five federal agencies covering a wide range of workplace laws.

On March 30, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the ABC-supported H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, in a bipartisan 225-204 vote, with four Democrats supporting and only one Republican, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., opposing the bill.

On March 29, the U.S. Senate passed the ABC-supported H.J. Res. 27, the Waters of the United States Congressional Review Act Resolution, in a 53-43 vote with the support of all Senate Republicans and five Democrats, Sens. Rosen, Nev., Cortez Masto, Nev., Manchin, W.Va., Tester, Mont., and Sinema, Ariz. Four Senators did not vote.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is hosting an online forum for employers, contractors, workers and other stakeholders on May 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. The two-day, virtual event will feature panel discussions on compliance with federal laws governing wages and workplace issues, with a specific focus on construction and federal contractors.

ABC has commissioned management consulting firm FMI to conduct the fifth annual survey to quantify the current investment and workforce development efforts of member contractors. It is vital that each member contractor complete the survey.

Last week, ABC joined a coalition of national, state and local trade associations in a letter to President Joe Biden, urging the administration’s active engagement with both the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association to help them reach a final contract, bring negotiations to a close and end the uncertainty surrounding operations of the West Coast ports.