The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) published two final rules Sept. 24, drastically revising Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, which require federal contractors and subcontractors to maintain affirmative action and nondiscrimination plans for veterans and individuals with disabilities, respectively. The rules will go into effect March 24, 2014. 

A study completed by the Tax Foundation found that, with pass-through businesses surpassing traditional corporations in number, individual tax rates with higher burdens impact hiring and other investment plans, causing an already struggling economy to remain unstable.

On October 22-23, in San Antonio, Texas, ABC will bring together industrial construction users and merit shop contractors for the first annual Industrial Users Summit.  The goal is to discuss common issues that affect the way projects are planned and delivered and demonstrate how merit shop contractors deliver value to customers. The Summit also gives ABC member contractors an opportunity to understand what owners need in the planning and delivery process.

The ABC National Diversity Excellence Awards recognize members that display exemplary diversity leadership in their workforce, supply chain and community with best-in-class recruitment policies, retention practices, and training and mentoring programs. Registration is open until Nov. 15.

The National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP) and the Association of Defense Communities are co-hosting the ABC sponsored 4th Annual Federal Energy Workshop and Defense Energy Partnership Forum, October 8-9, Arlington, Va., which will focus on finding solutions to the issues facing the federal energy market. Register here.

The National Craft Championships (NCC) Intent to Compete deadline is fast approaching. ABC members and chapters that want to send their best craft trainees to compete in the 2014 competition should have their competitors submit a form before Dec. 6. Visitwww.nationalcraftchampionships.org for more information. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has issued two surveys soliciting comments from the construction industry on the potential use of a project labor agreement (PLA) for projects in Fort Greely, Alaska and the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

ABC National and ABC of Michigan Sept. 6, celebrated a victory when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit upheld a law that banned government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on taxpayer-funded construction projects.

Register your entry now for the ABC Excellence in Construction Awards (EIC). The EIC awards competition recognizes projects that are the best of the best from merit shop contractors. Enter today to gain industry-wide recognition and get an advantage over competitors.

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) Aug. 27 signed into law S.B. 776, which is designed to curtail the ability of contractors to count contributions to merit shop labor-management cooperation committees (LMCCs) against their fringe benefit obligations only if those committees monitor and enforce the prevailing wage. Other activities will still be allowed. The legislation preserves that ability for contractors contributing to similar committees run by unions.