ABC-Opposed Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act Voted on in Committee

On Sept. 25, the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor held a markup on H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize, or PRO, Act.  During the markup, representatives debated the merits of the bill and sought to add and remove provisions. Each amendment submitted by Democrats passed, while those submitted by Republicans failed via a party line vote. 

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Study: Project Labor Agreement Mandates Inflate Cost of New Jersey School Construction by 16.25%

A study released in August by the Beacon Hill Institute found that New Jersey schools built under controversial government-mandated project labor agreements cost 16.25% more than schools that were bid and constructed through fair and open competition, free from PLA requirements.

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Senate HELP Committee Advances Eugene Scalia Nomination for Secretary of Labor

On Sept. 24, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted 12-11 to advance the nomination of Eugene Scalia to serve as the secretary of labor. The nomination will move to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote.
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EPA and Corps Issue Repeal of 2015 WOTUS Rule

On Sept. 12, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed the final rule rescinding the 2015 final Clean Water Rule: Definition of "Waters of the United States," also known as the WOTUS final rule. ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman attended the signing ceremony for the rulemaking.

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Pair of Republican Candidates Win North Carolina Congressional Special Elections

On Tuesday, Sept. 10, Republican special election candidates Greg Murphy and Dan Bishop won their highly anticipated respective congressional campaigns in North Carolina.

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OFCCP Releases Updated Compliance Assistance Guides

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs recently published several compliance assistance guides to provide federal contractors with resources on recordkeeping, postings and notices, technical assistance and more. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Leads Discussion on Workforce Development Reforms with GOP Leaders

Last week, ABC’s Vice President of HSE and Workforce Development, Greg Sizemore, made a presentation to the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee on the importance of continuing workforce development reforms at the state level. Read the rest of entry »

DOL Issues Association Retirement Plans Final Rule

On July 31, the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration issued a final rule that would allow small and mid-sized businesses to band together and offer 401(k) plans to their employees through Association Retirement Plans. The final rule goes into effect Sept. 30, 2019. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Students Attend White House Pledge to America’s Workers Event

Two graduates of ABC Pelican Chapter's Baton Rouge Training Center and one from the ABC Heart of America apprenticeship program were in Washington last week to attend the one-year anniversary celebration of President Trump’s Pledge to America’s Workers at the White House. Last year, ABC pledged to educate and upskill at least 500,000 construction workers over the next five years during the kick-off event.

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Controversial Multiemployer Pension Plan Bill Advances in Congress

On July 24, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act (H.R. 397) by a vote of 264-169 with 29 Republicans supporting the majority. Advocates argue the measure is needed to protect the pensions of 1.3 million workers in certain multiemployer pension plans and prevent the collapse of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, while critics maintain the legislation is a taxpayer-funded bailout of MEPPs and does little to address the fundamental structural flaws of MEPPs.

 

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