Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today reports its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) rose 3.9 percent during the second quarter of 2013 and now stands at 8.2 months, up from 7.9 months the previous quarter. Construction backlog is up 6.6 percent compared to the same time last year. CBI reflects the amount of commercial and industrial construction work under contract, but not yet completed.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today expressed concern over a controversial change in U.S. Senate rules and procedures that will allow the majority party to skirt a filibuster to confirm certain presidential appointments.  Traditionally, 60 votes have been needed to confirm nominees and pass legislation, but by invoking this unprecedented rule change along partisan lines, the majority has lowered that threshold to a simple majority of 51 votes.

Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) 2014 economic forecast for the U.S. commercial and industrial construction industry is consistent with ongoing recovery in nonresidential construction spending next year. However, the recovery remains constrained by a lack of conviction regarding overall macroeconomic and budgetary prospects in the United States.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today filed a request for an injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against an Aug. 27 rule from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) that drastically alters federal contractors’ existing affirmative action and nondiscrimination obligations for individuals with disabilities.  

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today applauded the Nov. 5 victory of ABC Alabama Chapter member and former state Sen. Bradley Byrne in a Republican special primary runoff election for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.

Washington, D.C. – In testimony today before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Pelican Chapter President Alvin Bargas discussed the importance of career and technical education (CTE) programs to the construction industry. 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced it will host its first Industrial Users Summit, Oct. 22-23, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas. The event will bring together industrial construction users and merit shop contractors to discuss common issues that affect the way projects are planned and delivered.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today is applauding U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruling to deny a request by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to review a decision to invalidate the NLRB’s August 2011 “Notification of Employee Rights” rule. Today’s decision comes on the heels of an Aug. 12 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to deny a similar NLRB request.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and members of the newly formed Construction Industry Safety Coalition, a group of national construction industry trade associations, expressed concern over a proposal from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) addressing crystalline silica exposure in the construction industry.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today criticized two final rules from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) that drastically alter federal contractors’ existing affirmative action and nondiscrimination obligations for veterans and individuals with disabilities.  

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) launched a national grassroots campaign to run concurrently with the congressional recess. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage ABC’s 22,000 members to meet with their elected representatives Aug. 3 through Sept. 8 to discuss issues and legislation important to the construction industry.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today issued the following statement in response to the White House corporate tax reform proposal unveiled by President Obama in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced it joined the Coalition for Fair Effective Tax Rates, which supports using effective tax rates, or the percentage of income businesses pay in taxes, as the clearest way to judge the impact of tax reform on businesses. 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced  it is relocating its national office from Arlington, Va. to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. ABC signed an 11-year lease with First Potomac Realty Trust for 19,830 square feet of office space at440 First Street, NW. 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced it has signed a strategic partnership with Maxwell Systems, a leading provider of construction management software solutions, expert services and best practices that empower contractors to eliminate waste and run a more efficient and profitable business.

Economists from Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the American Institute of Architects and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) gave their perspectives on where the construction economy is headed during a June 17 online news conference. As a whole, the economic climate is improving, but recovery will continue to be slow unless more jobs are created.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced that former National Chairman James (Jim) W. Elmer, founder and president of James W. Elmer Construction Co., Spokane, Wash., received a Life Membership award. He was presented this honor June 18 at ABC’s National Board of Directors meeting in Washington, D.C.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today celebrated a victory after South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signed a bill (S.438) into law that will prohibit state government entities from requiring contractors to sign a project labor agreement (PLA) or other agreements with labor unions as a condition of performing work on public construction projects.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today welcomed a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to invalidate the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) “notification of employee rights” notice posting rule. A three-judge panel struck down the rule on the grounds that the NLRB had overstepped its authority under law. ABC General Council Maurice Baskin, a shareholder with Littler, argued the case before the appeals court.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced Anthony Ayotte, craft training manager for the Cianbro Institute, Pittsfield, Maine, as its 2013 Craft Instructor of the Year. Ayotte received this honor May 3 during ABC’s 21st Century Workforce Development Conference in Birmingham, Ala.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced Michael Arledge, a journeyman electrician for Greiner Electric, Littleton, Colo. as its 2013 Craft Professional of the Year. The award was presented May 3 during ABC’s 21st Century Workforce Development Conference in Birmingham, Ala. 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced the winners of its 13th annual Student Chapter Construction Management Competition during the 21st Century Workforce Development Conference, April 30 - May 3 in Birmingham, Ala. Teams of students from 14 colleges and universities across the nation competed for more than $6,000 in cash and prizes, as well as the coveted “Construction Management Champions” title.  

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced the winners in its 2013 National Craft Championships competition, held at the association’s 21st Century Workforce Development Conference, April 30 - May 3 in Birmingham, Ala. 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today celebrated a victory after the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) awarded Eckman Construction Company a $31.6 million contract to build a DOL Job Corps Center in Manchester, N.H., after removing a controversial government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) from the federal project’s solicitation for construction services. Eckman Construction Company, Bedford N.H., submitted a bid that was more than $6 million below the lowest offer when the project was subjected to a PLA. 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate introduction of immigration reform legislation: “We congratulate the senators on taking this important first step toward fixing our broken immigration system in the United States,” said ABC Vice President of Federal Affairs Geoff Burr.