On March 23, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was sworn in as secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor by Vice President Kamala Harris, becoming the first union member to serve in the role of secretary in nearly half a century. The Senate confirmed Walsh to serve as secretary in a 68-29 vote on March 22.

ABC members are invited to provide input on Group A Codes at the International Code Council’s 2021 Committee Action Hearings, which will be held virtually from April 11 through May 5.

On March 16, the Michigan State Senate passed  Senate Concurrent Resolution 8, which opposes the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, federal legislation that would strengthen union organizing rights and restrict the autonomy of workers and employers.

ABC of California applauded the California State Assembly for the unanimous and bipartisan passage of Assembly Concurrent Resolution 23, which proclaims March 18, 2021 as Construction Suicide Prevention Awareness Day in California—raising awareness of an important health problem affecting the state’s construction industry. ABC of California supports ACR 23 and is currently working alongside its author, Assembly member Carlos Villapudua (D-Stockton), to help change the conversation around suicide and suicide prevention.

ABC has added Pelican Chapter member Wesley Littleton of 24Hr Safety, LLC to the Beam Club Presidential Level.

The 2021 Roadmap to World-class Safety is ready and our facilitators are prepared to present to your chapter, both in person and virtually. 

Steve Klessig, vice president of architecture and engineering, Keller Inc., Kaukauna, Wisconsin, took the reins as the 2021 ABC national chair at ABC’s March board of directors meeting in Grapevine, Texas, on March 9.

On March 9, the U.S. House passed H.R. 842, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, by a vote of 225-206. Five Republicans joined Democrats in pushing this bill forward, while only one Democrat, Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), opposed the bill.

On March 12, the U.S. Small Business Administration released new guidance that clarifies the Lobbying Disclosure Act definition of “lobbying” expenses and will be used to calculate the 15% thresholds for 501(c)(6) organizations receiving Paycheck Protection Program loans. Since December, ABC has advocated for the SBA to use the LDA in calculating lobbying activity and has continued to push the administration to release clear guidance on this critical issue for ABC and its chapters.

On March 12, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) into law, including a controversial provision providing a Congressional Budget Office-estimated $86 billion taxpayer bailout of struggling multiemployer pension plans.