On May 23, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744), which addresses many of the key elements needed for immigration reform. It includes a template for a new lesser-skilled temporary worker program; a mechanism for the undocumented population to earn legal status after being screened and paying a penalty; and a mandatory employment verification system for all employers.

All 45 Senate Republicans, the ABC-led Coalition for a Democratic Workplace and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have filed friend-of-the-court briefs asking for the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a lower court ruling that President Obama’s recess appointments to the NLRB were unconstitutional. 

ABC’s Legislative Conference will feature Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) as the keynote speaker during the Free Enterprise Alliance reception on June 11 and Rep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.-3) as the speaker at the Young Professionals Reception on June 12.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit May 16 ruled that President Barack Obama’s recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) between March 2010 and January 2012 were unconstitutional. The ruling, which supports a Jan. 25 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit invalidating the January 2012 recess appointments of Democrats Sharon Block and Richard Griffin, also invalidates the March 2010 recess appointment of Craig Becker. 

The Department of Labor May 8 issued a technical release containing guidance on a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that requires employers to issue employees a notice of coverage options.

As part of the H-2B Workforce Coalition and in conjunction with Immigration Works, ABC is encouraging members that use H-2B visas to participate in a survey on how developments related to the visas are affecting their bottom line.

The National Hispanic Contractors Association and ABC will be holding concurrent Legislative Breakfasts on June 12 and afterward, members of both groups will visit their legislators to discuss key industry issues. 

OSHA has released new materials to help employers comply with the newly revised Hazard Communication Requirements, including a fact sheet outlining the new training requirements, Quickcards on the new pictogram label requirements, and a brief synopsis on the labels and pictograms. 

The U.S. House of Representatives May 16 voted 229 –195 to pass H.R. 45, which would repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a survey requesting comments from the construction industry on the potential use of a PLA for the Public Health Command Laboratory Replacement, Edgewood Area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.