On Dec. 3, Rep. Dave Taylor, R-Ohio, introduced the Workforce Flexibility Act. The bill strikes a provision under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act which requires that 75% of youth funding be spent on workforce development programs for Out-of-School Youth (OSY) and 25% be spent on In-School Youth (ISY), creating flexibility for states and localities to allocate funds in ways that suit their communities best.

“The Workforce Flexibility Act empowers states and local leaders to direct workforce resources where they’re most needed,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice President of government affairs. “ABC is proud to support this commonsense solution to help America's youth access high-quality training and pursue strong career pathways in the construction industry.”

For more information, see Rep. Taylor’s press release on the bill’s introduction.

On Nov. 19, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education held a hearing titled, “From Classroom to Career: Strengthening Skills Pathways Through CTE.” Ahead of the hearing, ABC sent a letter to the committee highlighting ABC’s extensive training network, with chapters around the country providing flexible, industry-driven education and more than 450 registered apprenticeship programs. In 2023 alone, ABC members invested $1.6 billion to upskill 1.3 million workers.

Despite this commitment, ABC noted that current federal and state apprenticeship programs are not meeting workforce needs and emphasized the importance of expanding accessible CTE opportunities, better aligning high school programs with industry certifications, improving equipment and facilities, and strengthening partnerships between schools, employers and apprenticeship sponsors.

On Nov. 19, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing titled, “E-Verify: Ensuring Lawful Employment in America.” Ahead of the hearing, ABC joined the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition in a letter reaffirming support for a mandatory national employment verification system, only if paired with strong employer safeguards outlined in the Legal Workforce Act.

EWIC stressed the importance of clear employer protections, uniform federal standards, reasonable phase-ins, improved identity-verification tools, and fair, predictable penalties. These principles align with measures in recent proposals including H.R. 2, the Dignity Act, and the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act.

On Nov. 5, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a hearing titled "Registered Apprenticeship: Scaling the Workforce for the Future." Ahead of the hearing, ABC sent a letter thanking the committee for examining how apprenticeship and workforce development programs can help meet the nation’s growing demand for skilled construction workers. The letter also urged the committee to expand the system to support all high-quality training models that effectively prepare Americans for rewarding construction careers.

Committee Chair Bill Cassidy, R-La., opened the hearing by noting that the government-registered apprenticeship system is burdensome and inconsistent. He emphasized the importance of incorporating employer and employee input to simplify registration, provide flexibility, and lower costs in order to increase participation.

Senator Ed Markey, D-Ma., asked LIUNA General President Brent Booker if President Donald Trump's renovation of the White House's East Wing took appropriate safety steps to protect workers and passersby from asbestos. Booker said he did not have access to that information because the administration chose to use a nonunion workforce, and it is not a union jobsite. Markey stated he wrote the contractor who tore down the East Wing asking why workers were put at risk. He stated this is an example of President Trump being the most anti-union and anti-safety President in history. 

Chairman Cassidy responded, stating that every merit shop he has visited emphasizes and takes pride in its safety record and that all contractors are subject to the same OSHA regulations regarding asbestos.

On Sept. 2, ABC submitted comments in support of the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed rule to end discrimination and streamline rules for registered apprenticeships, Prohibiting Illegal Discrimination in Registered Apprenticeship Programs. For more information, see ABC’s Newsline article.

On March 5, the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on High Education and Workforce Development held a hearing titled, “Strengthening WIOA: Improving Outcomes for America’s Workforce.” Ahead of the hearing, ABC sent a letter to the committee in support of reintroduction and passage of a bipartisan reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. “Reauthorizing WIOA is a critical step in addressing the workforce challenges facing the construction industry and the broader economy,” the letter stated. “By modernizing funding allocation, expanding employer-led training opportunities and streamlining workforce development programs, this legislation will help ensure that businesses have access to a skilled and qualified workforce while providing individuals with pathways to stable, high-paying careers.”

At the end of 2024, ABC-supported A Stronger Workforce for America Act (H.R. 6655), bipartisan legislation that secured funding for workforce development and addressed the construction industry’s evolving need for qualified and skilled craft professionals by modernizing WIOA from its most recent reauthorization in 2014.

On Feb. 26, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce held the hearing “Unleashing America's Workforce and Strengthening Our Economy.” Ahead of the hearing, ABC sent a letter to the committee expressing support for an all-of-the-above approach to workforce development, consisting of industry-recognized and government-registered apprenticeships, competency-based learning and more. During the hearing, Representatives questioned witnesses on tax policy, apprenticeships, OSHA's proposed heat rulemaking and the Employee Rights Act. 

On January 15, the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a hearing: “America Builds: The State of the Nation’s Transportation System.” The hearing focused on permitting and workforce development. Four witnesses participated in the hearing, including Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, R, and Vice President of Williams Brothers Construction, Seth Schulgen.

ABC sent a letter to the committee ahead of the hearing, encouraging it to consider all-of-the-above workforce development, fair and open competition and Davis-Bacon Act repeal/reform as ways to maximize the effectiveness of federal dollars.

During his opening statement, Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo., stated the committee’s priority this Congress would be reauthorizing the Surface Transportation Act. He said the committee would hear from stakeholders and committee members as part of an aggressive hearing schedule. On the other hand, Ranking Member Rick Larsen, D-Wa., touted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its investments.

Regarding permitting, Ranking Member Larsen stated the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included streamlining and permitting reform that the Biden administration was unable to implement. He said he expects the Trump administration to advance these measures. Governor Landry expressed support for increasing state responsibilities within the permitting process. Landry noted that Section 404(b) permits were holding up the construction of vital infrastructure and that the states would be able to advance projects faster than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

On workforce development, Schulgen said 90% of contractors reported struggling to find workers and expressed support for increased career and technical education funding.

Regarding construction costs, Schulgen said the IIJA’s impact had been eroded by inflation. He noted the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration’s displayed that highway construction costs have risen 70% since 2020.

View the hearing here.

On Dec. 16, ABC sent a letter to members of the U.S. House and Senate supporting H.R.6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, as amended. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for the first time in nearly a decade and promotes America’s economic competitiveness. 

ABC applauds the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for reaching a deal on WIOA that secures funding for workforce development and addresses the construction industry’s evolving need for qualified and skilled craft professionals by modernizing WIOA from its most recent reauthorization in 2014.

On Sept. 19, Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-NY., introduced the CTE Student Mental Health and Wellness Act. This legislation would make area career and technical education schools eligible for mental health and substance use disorder services grants provided by the Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention grant program. Notably, institutions of higher education already have access to GLS grant dollars, and this bill would expand the list of covered institutions eligible to receive GLS grant dollars to include CTEs. Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., joined Rep. Langworthy in introducing the legislation.

“ABC is committed to creating a safe and healthy industry for the millions of people who make construction their career. By providing the current and future workforce access to resources to improve total human health, employers and workforce development providers can equip workers with the tools they need to prioritize mental health and protect their emotional well-being. ABC's commitment to advancing total human health is why ABC strongly supports the CTE Student Mental Health and Wellness Act,” said Kristen Swearingen, ABC vice president of legislative & political affairs. “It is vital that CTE schools have access to the same resources as other institutions of higher education to help workers enjoy the abundance life has to offer through their careers and beyond.”

ABC is joined by 13 other organizations in supporting the CTE Student Mental Health and Wellness Act.