On March 5, the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on High Education and Workforce Development held a hearing titled, “Strengthening WIOA: Improving Outcomes for America’s Workforce.” Ahead of the hearing, ABC sent a letter to the committee in support of reintroduction and passage of a bipartisan reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. “Reauthorizing WIOA is a critical step in addressing the workforce challenges facing the construction industry and the broader economy,” the letter stated. “By modernizing funding allocation, expanding employer-led training opportunities and streamlining workforce development programs, this legislation will help ensure that businesses have access to a skilled and qualified workforce while providing individuals with pathways to stable, high-paying careers.”

At the end of 2024, ABC-supported A Stronger Workforce for America Act (H.R. 6655), bipartisan legislation that secured funding for workforce development and addressed the construction industry’s evolving need for qualified and skilled craft professionals by modernizing WIOA from its most recent reauthorization in 2014.

On Feb. 26, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce held the hearing “Unleashing America's Workforce and Strengthening Our Economy.” Ahead of the hearing, ABC sent a letter to the committee expressing support for an all-of-the-above approach to workforce development, consisting of industry-recognized and government-registered apprenticeships, competency-based learning and more. During the hearing, Representatives questioned witnesses on tax policy, apprenticeships, OSHA's proposed heat rulemaking and the Employee Rights Act. 

On January 15, the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a hearing: “America Builds: The State of the Nation’s Transportation System.” The hearing focused on permitting and workforce development. Four witnesses participated in the hearing, including Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, R, and Vice President of Williams Brothers Construction, Seth Schulgen.

ABC sent a letter to the committee ahead of the hearing, encouraging it to consider all-of-the-above workforce development, fair and open competition and Davis-Bacon Act repeal/reform as ways to maximize the effectiveness of federal dollars.

During his opening statement, Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo., stated the committee’s priority this Congress would be reauthorizing the Surface Transportation Act. He said the committee would hear from stakeholders and committee members as part of an aggressive hearing schedule. On the other hand, Ranking Member Rick Larsen, D-Wa., touted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its investments.

Regarding permitting, Ranking Member Larsen stated the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included streamlining and permitting reform that the Biden administration was unable to implement. He said he expects the Trump administration to advance these measures. Governor Landry expressed support for increasing state responsibilities within the permitting process. Landry noted that Section 404(b) permits were holding up the construction of vital infrastructure and that the states would be able to advance projects faster than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

On workforce development, Schulgen said 90% of contractors reported struggling to find workers and expressed support for increased career and technical education funding.

Regarding construction costs, Schulgen said the IIJA’s impact had been eroded by inflation. He noted the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration’s displayed that highway construction costs have risen 70% since 2020.

View the hearing here.

On Dec. 16, ABC sent a letter to members of the U.S. House and Senate supporting H.R.6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, as amended. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for the first time in nearly a decade and promotes America’s economic competitiveness. 

ABC applauds the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for reaching a deal on WIOA that secures funding for workforce development and addresses the construction industry’s evolving need for qualified and skilled craft professionals by modernizing WIOA from its most recent reauthorization in 2014.

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 is committed to creating a safe and healthy industry for the millions of people who make construction their career. By providing the current and future workforce access to resources to improve total human health, employers and workforce development providers can equip workers with the tools they need to prioritize mental health and protect their emotional well-being. ABC's commitment to advancing total human health is why ABC strongly supports the CTE Student Mental Health and Wellness Act,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice president of legislative & political affairs. “It is vital that CTE schools have access to the same resources as other institutions of higher education to help workers enjoy the abundance life has to offer through their careers and beyond.”

ABC is joined by 13 other organizations in supporting the CTE Student Mental Health and Wellness Act.

On Sept. 11, the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means held a markup of the ABC-supported H.R. 9461, the USA Workforce Investment Act.

By establishing a new federal tax credit encouraging donations for community-based apprenticeship, career and technical education, workforce development and educational preparedness programs, Rep. Lloyd Smucker’s USA Workforce Investment Act will help address the skilled worker shortage and grow the construction talent pool.

On Dec. 13, ABC sent a letter to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce prior to its markup of key bills impacting the construction industry.

The letter highlights ABC’s support for H.R. 6655, the bipartisan A Stronger Workforce for America Act, which would reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for the first time since 2014 and includes several ABC-backed provisions that support an all-of-the-above approach to workforce development, ensures more dollars for tangible worker programs, better aligns programs with in-demand jobs, and allows for better evaluation of WIOA programs. ABC also supported the committee’s markup of H.J. Res. 98, a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Biden administrations harmful joint employer final rule, and H.R. 3400, the Small Business Before Bureaucrats Act, to modernize the National Labor Relations Board’s decades old jurisdictional standards to exempt more small businesses from their regulatory overreach. ABC’s letter also expresses concerns with H.R. 6585, the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, which, while seeking to expand Pell Grants to high-quality, short-term workforce programs, could exclude some vital construction workforce education and upskilling programs.

ABC also joined with the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace to comment on the Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing. The hearing examined the ABC-supported Employee Rights Act (H.R. 2700), Modern Worker Empowerment Act (H.R. 5513), and Save Local Business Act (H.R. 2826), which are designed to protect workers, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and the economy from a rogue National Labor Relations Board.

On Sept. 20, ABC submitted comments to the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development hearing titled, “Strengthening WIOA: Improving Outcomes for Jobseekers, Employers, and Taxpayers.” ABC’s letter calls on the committee to pursue policies that recognize the unique challenges facing the construction industry and provide employers with the tools they need to access a well-educated and dedicated workforce.

On Sept. 20, ABC submitted comments to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing titled, “Oversight of the Department of Transportation’s Policies and Programs.” The hearing featured testimony and questions with DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg. ABC commented on specific DOT policies that the department is pursuing outside of congressional authorization/intent such as the significant number of Biden administration federal agency grants – totaling more than $230 billion for infrastructure projects procured by state and local governments – subject to language and policies promoting PLA mandates and preferences that will increase costs and reduce competition on federally assisted construction projects. ABC also provided comments on the ABC-opposed union labor requirements on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. The DOT NEVI Formula Program will implement provisions of the IIJA that includes $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations (including $5 billion over five years to install EV chargers mostly along interstate highways).

On Sept. 20, ABC also submitted comments to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s markup of S. 2840, the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act, in support of an amendment offered by Ranking Member Bill Cassidy, R-La., that would ensure funds for construction and renovation of community health centers and other health care facilities are not subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements. The amendment faced defeat in the Democrat-controlled committee and was offered and withdrawn.

On September 13, ABC submitted comments to the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services hearing titled, “The Inflation Reduction Act: A Year in Review.” ABC’s letter expressed our concerns about anti-competitive and inflationary policy in the IRA that grants developers of clean energy construction projects a bonus tax credit 500% greater than a baseline tax credit of 6% conditioned on satisfying controversial prevailing wage and government-registered apprenticeship requirements.

On June 26, ABC submitted comments to the House Education and the Workforce Committee following the committee’s hearing titled: “Competencies Over Degrees: Transitioning to a Skills-Based Economy.” ABC’s letter offers recommendations as the committee considers the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in the 118th Congress and encourages the committee to enact policies that would provide further opportunities for all of America’s workers as we face a critical workforce shortage in the construction industry.

The hearing focused on key issues impacting today’s workforce, including the value of registered and industry recognized apprenticeships, Pell Grants, skills assessments and credentials. You may view the full committee hearing here.