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THE VOICE OF THE MERIT SHOP

ABC is the voice of the merit shop on Capitol Hill! Sending letters to Congress allows ABC to publicly advocate for the views and interests of our more than 23,000 members. By corresponding with U.S. House of Representatives and Senate members, ABC promotes fair and open competition in the construction industry and fights to protect merit shop contractors around the country.

ABC Joins Coalition Letter Supporting Independent Contractors

On May 20, the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing titled, “Empowering the Modern Worker.” Ahead of the hearing, ABC joined other business groups of the Independent Work Coalition in submitting a letter to the committee supporting opportunities for independent contractors. “As modern technology continues to drive the growth of independent work opportunities, policymakers should pursue policies that reflect the preferences of the workers themselves and that support the small businesses and entrepreneurs that rely on the independent contractor model,” the letter states.

The letter also pointed to two critical ABC-supported pieces of legislation sponsored by Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., the Modern Worker Empowerment Act (H.R. 1319) and the Modern Worker Security Act (H.R. 1320). The Modern Worker Empowerment Act provides clarity for workers and businesses by establishing a common-sense definition for independent contractor status across federal law. The Modern Worker Security Act clarifies that independent workers can participate in innovative programs designed to connect them with portable, work-related benefits without fear of potentially jeopardizing their independent contractor status under federal law.