FMCSA Waiver Announcement for Commercial Learners Permit Holders

In response to the president’s national emergency declaration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced a three-month waiver to prevent the possible shortage of commercial motor vehicle drivers and continue to allow intrastate and interstate commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learners permit (CLP) holders to transport critical goods and supplies to businesses and individuals affected by COVID-19.

ABC Comments on OMB’s Investigation, Adjudication Request for Information

On March 16, ABC submitted comments to the Office of Management and Budget on its Request for Information on Improving and Reforming Regulatory Enforcement and Adjudication.

ABC Issues a Key Vote on Amendment to Support Small and Midsize Businesses in Coronavirus Legislation

ABC issued a key vote to the Senate on an amendment submitted by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.). The amendment would have replaced the mandated paid leave requirements of the House-passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act that affect employers with fewer than 500 employees with unemployment insurance capped at $1000 per week.   

SBA Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus

On March 6, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, an $8.3 billion emergency spending bill that, among many other things, gave the Small Business Administration the ability to issue an economic injury disaster loan declaration pertaining to coronavirus.  

The Construction Industry Needs to Hire an Additional 550,000 Workers in 2020

Construction Spending

Source: Census Bureau Value of Construction Put in Place Survey Annual Historical Data and “Annual Total Table”

ABC Comments on DOL's IRAP Rule

On March 11, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule , officially titled Apprenticeship Programs, Labor Standards for Registration, Amendment of Regulations, which establishes a process for creating high-quality, industry-recognized apprenticeship programs by organizations that apply to become DOL recognized Standards Recognition Entities. The rule prohibits SREs from recognizing IRAPs in the construction sector. DOL’s press release on the proposal is available here.

H-2B Cap Increase Comes With New Conditions for Employers

On March 9, ABC joined the H-2B Workforce Coalition in a letter to the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to raise concerns over the release of a temporary final rule to implement supplemental H-2B visas.

Subcommittee Begins Conversation to Reauthorize the 1937 National Apprenticeship Act

On March 4, the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment held a hearing entitled “Reauthorizing the National Apprenticeship Act: Strengthening and Growing Apprenticeships for the 21^st Century.” The National Apprenticeship Act, also known as the Fitzgerald Act, has not been reauthorized since its enactment in 1937 and the Subcommittee released a discussion draft bill to reauthorize the act ahead of Wednesday’s hearing.  

ABC Hits the Airwaves to Advocate for Merit Shop Construction

Ben Brubeck, ABC’s vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs, conducted 11 radio and TV interviews during the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 27 in Washington, D.C. Brubeck discussed the outlook for construction spending and infrastructure investment, highlighted the industry’s response to its current skilled labor shortage and promoted the benefits of fair and open competition on taxpayer-funded construction contracts.

Federal Agencies Publish Databases of Active Guidance Documents

Multiple federal agencies recently published searchable databases of all respective guidance documents currently in effect in an effort by the Trump administration to promote transparency and make these documents readily available to the public.