Twenty-Two Members Earn AQC Credential This Month

The AQC program recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to quality, safety, craft and management education, talent management and diversity, and community relations.  This past month, 22 ABC members became Accredited Quality Contractors.

Read the rest of entry »

ABC Calls for ‘All-of-the-Above’ Approach to Apprenticeship Programs in Comments to DOL

On Aug. 26, ABC submitted comments on the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed rule on apprenticeship programs, which initially excludes the construction industry and the military from provisions intended to expand apprenticeships and close America’s skills gap.

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 »

ABC Seeks Feedback on DOL’s Proposed Rule on Apprenticeship Expansion

On June 25, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a proposed rule on apprenticeship programs that would establish a process for creating high-quality, industry-recognized apprenticeship programs by organizations that apply to become DOL recognized Standards Recognition Entities. DOL’s new release on the proposal is available here.   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.

Read the rest of entry »

Trump Administration Releases 2018 Fall Regulatory Agenda

On Oct. 17, the Trump Administration released its Fall 2018 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The agenda lists upcoming rulemakings and other regulatory actions from each agency that the administration expects to publish through the end of the year and in 2019. Read the rest of entry »

DOL Launches Apprenticeship Website for Employers and Job Seekers

On Aug. 30, the U.S. Department of Labor launched apprenticeship.gov, a digital platform designed to bring together workers in search of apprenticeship programs and the employers offering these opportunities across multiple industries. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Commends White House Infrastructure Plan's Regulatory Streamlining, Workforce Development Expansion Goals

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) President and CEO Michael D. Bellaman issued the following statement on President Donald Trump’s infrastructure proposal:

“ABC applauds the president for sending Congress a plan to rebuild America’s infrastructure. It is now time for lawmakers to develop legislation and policy to efficiently modernize America’s infrastructure and drive economic growth and prosperity for all Americans.
Read the rest of entry »

ABC CEO Mike Bellaman Appears on the Fox Business Network to Discuss Apprenticeship Expansion

ABC President and CEO Mike Bellaman made a live appearance on Fox Business Network's "Varney & Co." show on October 17th. The one-on-one interview focused on the U.S. Department of Labor's Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion that Bellaman was appointed to the day before. Watch a clip of Bellaman's appearance here.

Read the rest of entry »

ABC Supports Betsy DeVos’ Confirmation as Secretary of Education

On Jan. 9, ABC sent a letter to Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) to encourage the swift confirmation of Betsy DeVos as the next United States Secretary of Education. Read the rest of entry »