The U.S. Department of Labor continues to issue compliance assistance materials on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which went into effect on April 1. On March 18, the Senate passed and the president signed into law H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which requires private-sector employers with fewer than 500 employees, and certain public employers, to provide covered employees emergency paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave.

In response to the president’s national emergency declaration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced a three-month waiver to prevent the possible shortage of commercial motor vehicle drivers and continue to allow intrastate and interstate commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learners permit (CLP) holders to transport critical goods and supplies to businesses and individuals affected by COVID-19.

The ABC Virginia Chapter has started implementing a competency-based component for their registered apprenticeship program.

Tim Keating, owner and president, R. C. Stevens Construction Co., took the reins as the 2020 ABC national chair at ABC’s March Board of Directors meeting. “With decades of combined industry leadership and experience, Tim Keating is committed to ABC’s value proposition to help our membership develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work,” said Michael Bellaman, ABC president and chief executive officer. Check out ABC’s new video to learn more about Tim and his goals for ABC in 2020.

Following the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) and President Trump signing it into law, ABC has gathered some additional information on the bill’s small business and tax provisions.

Following last week’s passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (FFCRA) and President Trump signing it into law, the U.S. Department of Labor has requested ideas and input on the paid leave provisions of the new law as it issues implementing regulations and guidance. 

On March 24, ABC, as a member of the Construction Industry Safety Coalition Steering Committee, wrote to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration regarding recordkeeping and respirator enforcement during the COVID-19 outbreak. CISC is comprised of a number of trade associations that represent every aspect of the construction industry.

In the wake of coronavirus-related business shutdowns impacting the construction industry in Boston, Pennsylvania and other localities, ABC is urging President Trump to recognize construction as an essential service and keep workers employeto preserve the industry’s current and future ability to build and maintain health care facilities, respond to critical infrastructure requirements and aid in recovery efforts after natural disasters.  

With a shortage of N-95 face masks used by health care and first responders, the White House has called for donations to local hospitals from construction contractors and other industries that have supplies on hand.

ABC and its chapters are reaching out to state and local lawmakers and asking them to treat construction activities conducted in a safe and responsible manner as essential services in order to permit critical infrastructure services to continue as states and localities draft stay-at-home orders and other policies allowing only movement of workers involved in essential businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.