Contact:            Gail Raiman, (703) 812-2073                      For Immediate Release                        
                        Gerry Fritz, (703) 812-2062                       June 11, 2008 

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today voiced its strong support for the “Green Jobs Improvement Act” (H.R. 6220), introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.). The legislation would expand a provision in the “Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007” (H.R. 6) to allow merit shop training programs to receive federal funding to help create an energy efficiency and renewable energy skilled workforce.

“Contractors – both union and nonunion – support the concept of “green jobs” training as they strive to meet the growing demand of these professionals in the construction workforce.” said ABC President and CEO Kirk Pickerel. “This legislation will open the door to 86 percent of the U.S. construction workforce who chose to be merit shop employees.”

The provision, as it is currently written, limits training grant funding to entities that “partner with labor organizations.” The “Green Jobs Improvement Act” eliminates the mandate so that labor organizations, along with merit shop training programs, can qualify for the federal funding.

In a letter sent to Congress, ABC pointed out that its “organization and member companies continuously train workers in a wide variety of skilled occupations, including green jobs, and are constantly striving to keep pace with technology and innovation in order to make certain America has the skilled workforce it deserves, and that all American workers, regardless of labor affiliation, enjoy equal opportunity of access to critical job training.”

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association representing nearly 25,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 78 chapters across the United States. Visit us at www.abc.org.

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