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On Nov. 13, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., reintroduced the Affordable Housing Expansion Act, which streamlines outdated federal regulations under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts and helps expand affordable housing nationwide.
“The Affordable Housing Expansion Act removes unnecessary barriers to construction and improves taxpayer value,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice president of government affairs. “By modernizing the Davis-Bacon wage determination process and reducing compliance burdens, this bill provides contractors, workers and taxpayers with accurate and clearly defined rates. ABC commends Sen. Moran for his leadership and urges Congress to advance this commonsense proposal.”
The bill improves the wage determination process by allowing wage surveys to use broader geographic groupings. In addition, it orders the U.S. Department of Labor to review and update how it collects wage data within one year to ensure that surveys are more reliable, generate higher participation rates and achieve a better balance between union and nonunion employers.
By cutting red tape and ensuring fair competition, the Affordable Housing Expansion Act empowers contractors to focus resources on building more homes and revitalizing communities across the country.
For more information on the bill, see ABC’s letter of support.
Background
The DBRA requires contractors to pay administratively determined minimum wage rates, or “prevailing wages,” for construction labor on projects exceeding just $2,000 in cost to the federal government. The DOL determines prevailing wages for construction projects through incomplete, inconsistent and unrepresentative surveys that often reflect union rates, as unionized contractors are more likely to report uniform wage data.
This can result in standardized union-level wages being applied across projects, regardless of whether contractors are unionized. As a result, the DBRA functions as a multibillion-dollar taxpayer subsidy for unionized construction contractors and, as the Congressional Budget Office estimates, will cost the federal government $24.3 billion through 2032.
For more information on Davis-Bacon, see here.
On Nov. 5, ABC sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions ahead of its Nov. 6 hearing, “Registered Apprenticeship: Scaling the Workforce for the Future.”
In the letter, ABC thanked the committee for examining how apprenticeship and workforce development programs can help meet the nation’s growing demand for skilled construction workers. “Registered apprenticeships are one important part of a diverse workforce development ecosystem,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice president of government affairs. “But rigid structures and lengthy completion times discourage participation by employers and workers alike. Congress should modernize and expand the system to support all high-quality training models that successfully prepare Americans for rewarding construction careers.”
ABC’s 67 chapters educate craft, safety and management professionals using innovative and flexible learning models, such as just-in-time task training, competency-based progression and work-based learning. These talent development initiatives occur alongside ABC’s more than 450 federal and state government-registered apprenticeship programs, or GRAPs, that prepare American’s nationwide for safe and productive work in more than 20 occupations. Further, ABC members invested an estimated $1.6 billion in construction industry workforce development to upskill 1.3 million course attendees in 2023, including hundreds of GRAPs, independently administered by ABC member companies.
However, it is clear that, at current rates of participation and completion, federal and state GRAPs still fail to meet the construction industry’s short- and long-term skilled workforce development needs. According to an annual ABC analysis of U.S. Department of Labor data, ABC estimates that, in fiscal year 2024, 290,000 apprentices were enrolled in federal and state GRAPs that yielded less than 40,000 completers—well short of the 439,000 workers needed in 2025 alone.
ABC and its members’ investment in GRAPs is reflected by DOL data displaying significant growth in nonunion GRAPs between FY 2015 and FY 2024.
The DOL’s data presents five-year trend lines indicating stronger proportional growth in the number of nonunion GRAPs, apprentice participants and apprentice completers compared to union-affiliated GRAPs since FY 2019.
Further, while construction unions represent just 10.3% of the U.S. construction workforce, they continue to operate a majority of the nation’s registered apprenticeship programs, accounting for roughly 69% of participants.
With this data in mind, ABC encouraged the committee to reject requirements that may limit opportunities for the many high-quality, industry-recognized programs that successfully train the majority of America’s construction workforce. A balanced approach that values all proven workforce development models—both union and nonunion—best ensures the construction industry can meet the nation’s growing needs.
On Oct. 30, ABC submitted post-hearing comments to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration in response to OSHA’s informal public hearing on its Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings proposed rule. On June 18, ABC participated in the informal public hearing and was asked a series of questions by OSHA, which ABC’s comments address.
As explained in the comments, “ABC remains committed to helping its members protect their employees from recognized hazards, including heat injury and illness. A standard addressing heat injury and illness must be flexible and performance-based. Despite requests from ABC and its coalition partners in the construction industry requesting flexibility, OSHA’s proposed rule is a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach. The very nature of construction means that the worksite will change hourly and daily.
“It is misguided to apply one regulatory approach to all employers conducting outdoor and indoor work in general industry, construction, maritime and agriculture sectors. ABC reiterates its request that OSHA withdraw the current rule as proposed, revise it to allow greater flexibility for affected industries and, at a minimum, develop a separate standard for the construction industry.”
Needed flexibility is limited in OSHA’s proposed rule because the agency has imposed rigid requirements, which include heat triggers, an acclimatization schedule for new and returning employees, mandatory rest breaks and the use of a heat safety coordinator, among others. OSHA failed to recognize the practical applications needed on construction jobsites. Employers and employees need flexibility to account for differences among worksites, geographical locations, work responsibilities and available technology. Employers also need better guidance from OSHA on hybrid worksites where work initially begins outside and then transitions to “indoor” conditions. Additionally, construction jobsites vary in size, time, scope and duration, and flexibility is needed to ensure feasibility for compliance.
As a steering committee member, ABC also shares the concerns and recommendations provided in extensive post-hearing comments filed by the Construction Industry Safety Committee and the Coalition for Workplace Safety.
Background:
On Oct. 27, 2021, OSHA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings, which requested information on how to implement regulations to protect workers from hazardous heat. ABC, as a steering committee member of CISC, submitted comments in response to the ANPRM on Jan. 26, 2022, stating that any regulatory approach—if adopted—must be simple and should integrate the key concepts of “water, rest, shade.”
In December 2023, ABC submitted comments as a steering committee member of CISC and CWS in response to OSHA’s potential standard for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings following its review of the Small Business Advocacy Review Panel materials and the SBAR Panel’s final report. In September 2023, the SBAR Panel hosted six video conferences to gather input from small entity representatives. An ABC member participated as a SER during one of the video conferences.
On Jan. 14, 2025, ABC submitted comments to the DOL on its Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings proposed rule, urging the agency to withdraw the current rule as proposed and revise it to allow greater flexibility for affected industries and, at a minimum, develop a separate standard for the construction industry. In addition, ABC joined comment letters submitted by CISC and CWS on Jan. 14.
Continue to monitor ABC’s Newsline for updates on the proposed rule.
ABC congratulates another 24 companies for earning the Accredited Quality Contractor credential in October. AQC recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to excellence in key areas of corporate responsibility: quality, health and safety, craft and management education, talent management and community relations.
The companies include:
Companies must meet the AQC criteria and have earned Gold, Platinum or Diamond status in ABC’s STEP® Health and Safety Management System in order to be eligible for the credential.
As an AQC, you have the opportunity to:
Visit abc.org/aqc for more information.
The biggest headline throughout the 2025-26 election cycle has been mid-decade redistricting in a handful of states. With a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, GOP leaders in Washington are looking to Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps—in hope of picking up as many seats as possible—while Democrats are vowing to push back.
As of Oct. 28, there have been major developments in the battle to control the House. Here are the latest redistricting actions and how they may reshape ABC’s political advocacy:
Texas: 25 R 12 D 1 Open → 30 R 7 D 1 Open
The Lone Star State was the first domino to fall in the redistricting wars. The state legislature approved a new congressional map that would axe five Democrat-held seats in major urban areas.
California: 43 D 9 R → 48 D 4 R
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has pledged to counter the new Texas map with one of his own—but it will face a public ballot measure to be voted on in early November. Proposition 50 would override the state’s independent redistricting commission and give Democrats more favorable district maps.
Indiana: 7 R 2 D → 8 R 1 D
On Oct. 27, Republican Gov. Mike Braun convened a special legislative session to work through several priorities, including redistricting. Vice President J.D. Vance recently visited the Hoosier State, where there has been some apathy in the state legislature to redraw the current map. Indiana will be a good litmus test to see if other red states fall in line.
Missouri: 6 R 2 D → 7 R 1 D
In September, Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe and the state legislature passed a new map that would make Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver’s seat, which represents the Kansas City area, more Republican-leaning. The new map is sure to face an uphill legal battle.
Ohio: 10 R 5 D → 12 R 3 D
After a court-mandated decision, lawmakers in the Buckeye State had until Sept. 30 to submit a new map—and missed the deadline. Now, the Ohio State Redistricting Commission will have until late November to submit a new one.
Illinois: 14 D 3 R → 16 D 1 R
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker has indicated he’s attracted to the idea of a new map to favor Democrats; however, Illinois is already heavily gerrymandered. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., was in the Land of Lincoln on Oct. 28 to pressure Illinois lawmakers to try and pick up one Democratic seat.
North Carolina: 10 R 4 D → 11 R 1 D
In North Carolina, Republicans are looking to wipe out one blue seat, presumably Rep. Don Davis’s competitive seat, who represents the Rocky Mount area. The state legislature approved a new map on Oct. 24 that makes the push all but certain.
Utah: 4 R → 3 R 1 D
After a court-mandated decision, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed into law a new congressional map that would shift two Salt Lake City-area seats. According to Politico, Utah’s 3rd Congressional District could be the most competitive. It is possible that Democrats could pick up one seat in the Beehive State.
Kansas: 3 R 1 D → 4 R 0 D
Republican state legislators in Kansas are moving forward with a plan to nix Democrat Sharice Davids’s seat, a Democrat who represents the Roeland Park area. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly opposes the plan and will demand public hearings if they override her veto. On Oct. 27, state legislators in Topeka secured enough signatures on a petition to move forward with the plan.
Virginia: 6 D 5 R → 8 D 3 R
On Oct. 27, members of the Virginia General Assembly voted to adopt an amendment that would allow them to move forward with a new map that would axe up to two Republican seats. The most vulnerable GOP incumbents at this juncture are Reps. Jen Kiggans, a Republican who represents the Virginia Beach area, and Rob Whittman, a Republican who represents the Tappahannock area.
Florida: 20 R 8 D → 22 R 6 D
Florida is one of the latest states to consider redistricting. State lawmakers have started to take steps to undergo a mid-decade redraw of the map. The goal is to target two districts, and the plan is sure to face challenges in the courts.
The ABC political affairs team is committed to electing merit shop-friendly candidates to Congress and will continue to monitor new developments as they arise.
Over 250 middle school students from across five Pennsylvania counties took part in “Construction Wars,” an interactive career exploration program held Oct. 14-16 at ABC Keystone’s training facility in Manheim, Pennsylvania.
Designed to introduce children to the trades, the program is offered for students in seventh and eighth grades.
Throughout the day, participants rotated through hands-on stations led by skilled tradespeople. Activities included wiring electrical circuits, constructing wooden benches, laying brick, building PVC projects, shaping sheet-metal toolboxes and exploring HVAC systems and heavy equipment.
Member companies financially sponsored the event and provided giveaways for the students, as well as hosting the trade stations. Members volunteered their time with hands-on training and sharing their experiences with and insight on construction careers.
ABC Keystone developed the event to showcase construction careers. Since its inception in 2016, thousands of students have participated in Construction Wars across central Pennsylvania, many of whom later pursue training through ABC Keystone’s PA Registered Apprenticeship Training program.
ABC congratulates 13 companies for earning the Accredited Quality Contractor credential this month. AQC recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to excellence in key areas of corporate responsibility: quality, health and safety, craft and management education, talent management and community relations.
If you would like to see your company be recognized, visit abc.org/aqcapp for more information and to get started. The application window for 2025 closes Friday, Oct. 24.
ABC of Iowa recently partnered with Roc Solid Foundation to build six playsets, one playhouse and one double playhouse for eight children with cancer. The builds took place from April through October 2025.
The ABC of Iowa Board of Directors voted to to build the playsets with contractor members and split the cost for each build. ABC of Iowa coordinated with Roc Solid Foundation and the parents of the playset recipients while the members brought the manpower and tools.
ABC members involved were Dahl Air Conditioning & Heating, Holmes Murphy, Hydronic Energy, River Cities Engineering, Hometown Mechanical, Proctor Mechanical, Brockway Mechanical, Price Industrial and Interstates Cos.
On Sept. 30, the U.S. Department of Transportation released an interim final rule to revise its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.
DOT’s DBE program seeks to assist the formation and growth of small businesses owned by economically disadvantaged individuals, by ensuring that state and local governments establish goals for DBE participation on federally assisted projects.
The final rule ends presumptions of disadvantage based on race or gender that have previously been used by businesses to qualify as DBEs.
This rule is in accordance with the DOT’s proposal in May 2025 to settle a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of these presumptions in the case Mid-America Milling Co. v. U.S. Department of Transportation.
With these presumptions eliminated, existing DBE firms must be reevaluated and will be able to apply for recertification by demonstrating “individualized proof regarding specific instances of economic hardship, systemic barriers, and denied opportunities that impeded the owner's progress or success.”
The final rule took effect Oct. 3. The DOT is accepting comments on the rule until Nov. 3.
Note: This story was updated on Oct. 8 to include additional resources.
As of Oct. 1, the federal government is shut down, as Congress has failed to reach a deal to pass legislation to fund the government.
On Oct. 3, ABC sent out a release, urging the U.S. Senate to take immediate action to end the government shutdown by passing the clean continuing resolution—the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026.
ABC will provide guidance for ABC contractor members in Newsline as we receive it.
Below are links to contingency plans for federal agencies that contractors may work with:
Wiley Law has posted an informative article, Preparing for a Government Shutdown, which we encourage ABC contractors to review.
In addition, ABC’s general counsel, Littler, has posted articles on the shutdown: Possible 2025 Government Shutdown and Impact on Immigration-Related Agencies, What a Government Shutdown Means for Employers: Many Agencies Will Sharply Curtail Operations, Delaying New and Pending Cases | Littler and The Impact of a Federal Government Shutdown on OSHA.
Further, because of the shutdown, no monthly construction economic data will be collected and no reports will be issued until sometime after the government reopens. Because ABC is not receiving any of the data that the government releases on construction spending, jobs openings, employment, state unemployment or materials prices, these ABC releases are all on pause.
Additional Resources:
ABC is continuing to monitor the shutdown and will provide updates in Newsline. Members are encouraged to reach out to ABC’s government affairs team with any questions or concerns.