ABC today voiced its strong support for the Fair and Open Competition Act (S. 622). The bill, introduced by Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), will reduce costs for taxpayers by encouraging all qualified construction companies to compete for federal and federally funded construction projects. S. 622 prevents federal agencies and recipients of federal funding from requiring contractors to sign controversial project labor agreements (PLAs) as a condition of winning federal or federally assisted construction contracts. 

ABC praised President Trump for issuing an executive order requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise the controversial Waters of theUnited States rule on Feb. 28. The rule had been previously been blocked under a nationwide stay issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to block implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) “Volks” final rule through the Congressional Review Act. The bill (H. J. Res. 83) was passed in a bi-partisan vote of 231-191.

ABC applauded the U.S. Senate for joining the U.S. House of Representatives in passing legislation (H.J. Res. 37) that will block implementation of the Obama administration’s controversial Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order 13673, commonly referred to as “blacklisting,” through the Congressional Review Act (CRA). 

On Feb. 16, President Trump announced R. Alexander Acosta as his nominee for Secretary of Labor. Acosta is currently the dean of the Florida International University College of Law and previously served as an assistant attorney general in the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division and as a member of the National Labor Relations Board.  His nomination followed Andy Puzder’s withdrawal from the confirmation process.

On Feb. 16, the 2017 Construction General Permit (CGP) went into effect; the revised CGP was issued by the EPA on Jan. 11, 2017. The 2017 CGP replaces the 2012 CGP; the permit includes stormwater runoff from construction sites that disturb one or more acres, or sites that are a part of a larger common plan of development. The 2017 CGP will last for five years.

On Feb. 15, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Labor, former CKE Restaurants CEO Andrew Puzder, withdrew from consideration of the position. Prior to his withdrawal, Puzder was slated to appear before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for a hearing on Thursday Feb. 16. 

On Feb. 9,  President Trump signed three executive orders, including: 1) directing the administration’s new Attorney General to develop a strategy to more effectively prosecute people who engage in crimes against law enforcement officers, 2) establishing a task force to reduce crime in communities across the nation, and 3) refocusing federal resources on disrupting transnational criminal organizations.

On July 8, 2016 ABC and a coalition of stakeholders filed a lawsuit against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) final rule on Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, commonly referred to as the “electronic reporting and anti-retaliation final rule.” The complaint filed on July 8, immediately challenged the anti-retaliation provisions of the final rule that limit post-accident drug testing and safety incentive programs. On Feb. 8, the complaint was amended to include the provision

In its first two weeks, the Trump administration took a series of significant executive actions in the areas of federal regulation, infrastructure, manufacturing, trade, immigration and health care.