On Aug. 15, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a proposed rule, Assessing Contractor Implementation of Cybersecurity Requirements, which seeks to implement contractual requirements for DOD contracts related to the recently proposed Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 Program. As currently proposed, the rule raises serious concerns regarding a lack of clear definitions and flexibility for federal contractors on DOD projects.

On Sept. 19, Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-NY., introduced the CTE Student Mental Health and Wellness Act. This legislation would make area career and technical education schools eligible for mental health and substance use disorder services grants provided by the Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention grant program. Notably, institutions of higher education already have access to GLS grant dollars, and this bill would expand the list of covered institutions eligible to receive GLS grant dollars to include CTEs. Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., joined Rep. Langworthy in introducing the legislation.

ABC recently participated in a White House-sponsored roundtable discussion, “Recovery in the Workplace: Investing to Build the Workforce of Tomorrow,” which convened a dozen leading corporations and business groups to highlight the importance of recovery-ready and recovery-friendly workplaces and share best practices. Greg Sizemore, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development, discussed ABC’s Total Human Health Initiative and more at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s National Recovery Month Roundtable.

ABC congratulates Baker Concrete Construction Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a member of the Florida East Coast and several other chapters, and Bald Hill Builders of Walpole, Massachusetts, a member of ABC’s Massachusetts chapter, for earning the Accredited Quality Contractor credential.

On Sept. 4, ABC joined industry partners in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado, as the court considers whether the National Environmental Policy Act requires that agencies consider environmental impacts beyond the immediate effects of their regulatory decision.

On Sept. 3, Associated Builders and Contractors joined 150 members of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council in a letter of support for H.R.9278, introduced by Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa. This legislation would provide small businesses with an additional year to file the beneficial ownership information required by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s Corporate Transparency Act implementing regulation.

On Sept. 6, President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14126 on Investing in America and Investing in American Workers, a new effort by the Biden-Harris administration to utilize federal policy to favor unions that is likely to undermine competition to build taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects.

In a win for ABC members, on Aug. 20, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas blocked the Federal Trade Commission from implementing its rule to ban noncompete agreements. The court found that the FTC lacked statutory authority to promulgate the rule and that the rule is arbitrary and capricious. This means the rule will not be enforced or otherwise take effect on Sept. 4, 2024. According to media reports, the FTC is considering appealing the decision. To learn more about the decision, read ABC’s general counsel Littler Mendelson’s analysis.

On Aug. 15, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a proposed rule, Assessing Contractor Implementation of Cybersecurity Requirements, which seeks to implement contractual requirements for DOD contracts related to the recently proposed Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 Program. Comments on the proposed rule are due Oct. 15.

On Aug. 1, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee voted to advance two nominees to the National Labor Relations Board. Democrat Lauren McFerran’s nomination to serve another term as chair passed in a party-line vote, 11-10. The nomination of Republican Josh Ditelberg passed with a bipartisan vote of 18-3. A full Senate vote on these two nominations is not yet scheduled.