ABC Hails Lower Small Business Rates in Tax Reform Framework

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11—Michael D. Bellaman, president and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s speech on tax reform in Harrisburg, Pa.:

“President Trump’s tax framework promises the lowest small business tax rate in the last 80 years, which would unlock the full economic potential of the 21,000 members of Associated Builders and Contractors.  A growing economy means a thriving construction industry—when businesses are able to reinvest in wages, jobs, and expansion, ABC members are there to do the work. 
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Tax Reform Framework a Major Step Forward, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27—Michael D. Bellaman, president and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), issued the following statement supporting the Unified Framework for Fixing Our Broken Tax Code released today by congressional and administration leaders:
 
“The tax framework released today marks a promising step forward for the first genuine reform of the tax code in a generation. Associated Builders and Contractors is encouraged by the proposal, and we strongly support the tax reform process moving forward.
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CSLB Urges Swift Passage of Save Local Business Act

WASHINGTON, September 13 — Coalition to Save Local Businesses Executive Director Michael Layman released the below statement on today’s House Education and the Workforce joint subcommittee hearing on the Save Local Business Act (H.R. 3441). Read the rest of entry »

ABC Calls on Congress to Support Expansion of Construction Apprenticeship Programs

WASHINGTON, July 26--Michael Bennett, vice president of the Cianbro Cos., Pittsfield, Maine, today told Congress that industry-driven training programs should play a bigger role in government efforts to close the workforce/skills gap that has left 500,000 construction jobs unfilled in the United States today. Bennett testified on behalf of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development to call for support for President Trump’s recent executive order expanding apprenticeships, which would help ensure job seekers get exactly the training required for success in today’s job market.
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ABC Announces Hire of Stephen Wiltshire as Safety Director

WASHINGTON, July 17—Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced that veteran construction safety expert Stephen M. Wiltshire has joined its 70-person staff as director of safety.
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ABC Hails Florida Legislation That Encourages Competition in Bidding on Public Construction Projects

Washington, June 15—Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today applauded Gov. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) for signing legislation into law that will promote open competition in the procurement of construction services funded by Florida taxpayers. 
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Construction Input Prices Flat, but Crude Petroleum Prices Plummet in May, ABC Says

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 13—Construction input prices remained unchanged in May, ending five consecutive months of price expansion, according to analysis of  Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. Construction input prices expanded 3.4 percent on a year-over-year basis. 
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HUD Secretary Ben Carson to Headline ABC’s Diversity & Inclusion Summit

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 2—Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced that Dr. Ben Carson, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will deliver the keynote address at its annual Diversity & Inclusion Summit, June 19-20 in Washington, D.C. The summit is part of ABC Legislative Week, which also features legal and legislative updates, meetings with lawmakers and political advocacy sessions for ABC Young Professionals.
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Missouri Governor Signs ABC-supported Law to Protect Taxpayers, Construction Industry from Project Labor Agreement Mandates; ABC Urges Federal Action

WASHINGTON, May 30—Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today applauded Gov. Eric Greitens (R-Mo.) for signing legislation into law that will promote fair and open competition on contracts for construction services funded by Missouri taxpayers. SB 182 ensures controversial project labor agreements (PLAs) cannot be mandated by the government on state, state-assisted and local construction projects, guaranteeing that the almost three out of four members of Missouri’s private construction workforce who have chosen not to join a labor union can fairly compete to work on projects funded by their own tax dollars. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Unemployment Rates Improve in 22 States

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 30—April not seasonally adjusted (NSA) construction unemployment rates were down in 22 states and unchanged in two (Arkansas and California) on a year-over-year basis, according to analysis released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). However, the national NSA construction unemployment rate of 6.3 percent was up 0.3 percent from April 2016, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Read the rest of entry »