Reports indicate that not a single electric vehicle charging station has been constructed with the $7.5 billion in federal investment available through the Federal Highway Administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, threatening the Biden administration’s goal to build 500,000 EV chargers by 2030. The final rule implementing the NEVI Formula Program contained a number of ABC-opposed, union-favoring labor requirements that may be contributing to the program’s stagnation.

FHWA Releases Final Rule on Greenhouse Gas Emissions On Nov. 22, the Federal Highway Administration released its Greenhouse Gas Performance Measure final rule. The final rule requires that state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations—the state entities responsible for transportation infrastructure construction and maintenance—must measure and report GHG emissions associated with transportation. Further, state DOTs and MPOs must set targets for reducing carbon dioxide emission and report on progress toward these targets.

The key components of the STEP Safety Management System work synergistically to build an effective safety culture. Explore how responsibilities, resources and rules can help you build better relationships and open lines of communication to improve employee safety and company profitability.

Throughout 2023, ABC has been closely monitoring federal regulatory actions and updating ABC members through the ABC Regulatory Roundup. Several federal rules have gone into effect or are scheduled to go into effect in the near future.

ABC honored Ben Houston with the Life Membership Award at ABC Leadership Institute in Palm Springs, California. A Life Member is an individual retired from an active role in the industry who contributed outstanding service to ABC during their active years.

On Nov. 15, Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa., introduced a resolution (H.J. Res.103) under the Congressional Review Act providing for congressional disapproval of the U.S. Department of Labor’s final rule, Updating Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations. This controversial final rule largely disregards the feedback of ABC, construction industry stakeholders and thousands of small businesses urging the withdrawal of––and/or improvements to––this unnecessary, costly and burdensome regulation.

ABC Congratulates 30 Members Awarded DOL’s 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Congratulations to the 30 ABC members that have been honored by the U.S. Department of Labor with the 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award, only federal-level award that recognizes a company or organization’s commitment to veteran hiring, retention and professional development.

On Nov. 17, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore issued an executive order that requires the consideration of union-favoring project labor agreements on construction contracts procured by state agencies where the state’s financial commitment is $20 million or greater. The EO also includes new community benefit agreements and government-registered apprenticeship policies in addition to troubling pro-PLA language.

On Nov. 13, Associated Builders and Contractors filed comments urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to withdraw the Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process proposed rule, which would allow employees to choose a third-party representative, such as an outside union representative or community organizer, to accompany an OSHA safety inspector into nonunion workplaces during site inspections. ABC also signed on to comments submitted by the Coalition for Workplace Safety and Construction Industry Safety Coalition.

On Nov. 16, the National Labor Relations Board extended the effective date of its final rule on Joint Employer Status Under the National Labor Relations Act from Dec. 26 to Feb. 26, 2024. The new standard will only be applied to cases filed after the rule becomes effective.