ABC CEO Mike Bellaman Appointed to Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion for all Americans

Michael D. Bellaman, president and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), has been appointed by U.S. Department of Labor Secretary R. Alexander Acosta  to the Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion, created by President Trump’s June 15 Executive Order 13801.

“I am excited to join Secretary Acosta’s task force to expand opportunities to citizens nationwide who want to live the American Dream while helping to build and rebuild our country,” said Bellaman. “As the president promised in his election night acceptance speech, every single American will have the opportunity to realize his or her fullest potential under his administration. That sentiment will drive this task force as we work to promote affordable education and rewarding jobs for all Americans.”
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ABC Applauds Executive Order to Expand Association Health Plans

WASHINGTON, Oct.12--Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released the following statement from Kristen Swearingen, vice president of legislative & political affairs, following President Trump’s signing of an executive order to expand access to Association Health Plans (AHPs):
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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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Nonresidential Construction Spending Stabilizes in August; Spending on Nonresidential Construction Services Is Still Down on a YOY Basis

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2—Nonresidential construction spending expanded 0.5 percent in August, totaling $691.8 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis, according to an analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Though this represents an improvement from July’s total ($688.2 billion), nonresidential spending remains 3.4 percent below its year-ago level and is down 3.8 percent from the cyclical peak attained in May 2017.

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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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Construction Unemployment Improves in 35 States as Rate Falls to Lowest Ever for August

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27—The not seasonally adjusted (NSA) national construction unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in August, down 0.4 percent from a year ago and the lowest August rate on record, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported. Unemployment rates were also down in 35 states on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Rates rose in nine states and were unchanged in six. Further, the construction industry employed 206,000 more workers than in August 2016.

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Construction Unemployment Improves in 35 States as Rate Falls to Lowest Ever for August

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27—The not seasonally adjusted (NSA) national construction unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in August, down 0.4 percent from a year ago and the lowest August rate on record, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported. Unemployment rates were also down in 35 states on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Rates rose in nine states and were unchanged in six. Further, the construction industry employed 206,000 more workers than in August 2016.

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ABC Applauds Confirmation of William Emanuel to NLRB

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25--Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released the following statement from Kristen Swearingen, vice president of Legislative & Political Affairs, on the confirmation of William Emanuel to serve on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

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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 »

Construction Input Price Growth Accelerates in August

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13—Construction input prices rose 0.6 percent in August and are up 3.7 percent on a yearly basis, according to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nonresidential construction input prices behaved similarly, rising 0.6 percent for the month and 3.5 percent for the year.  
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