On Sept. 6, President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14126 on Investing in America and Investing in American听Workers, a new effort by the Biden-Harris administration to utilize federal policy to favor unions that is likely to undermine competition to build taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects.

In a win for 老牛影视members, on Aug. 20, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas blocked the Federal Trade Commission from implementing its rule to ban noncompete agreements. The court found that the FTC lacked statutory authority to promulgate the rule and that the rule is arbitrary and capricious. This means the rule will not be enforced or otherwise take effect on Sept. 4, 2024. According to media reports, the FTC is considering appealing the decision. To learn more about the decision, read ABC鈥檚 general counsel Littler Mendelson鈥檚 analysis.

On Aug. 15, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a proposed rule, Assessing Contractor Implementation of Cybersecurity Requirements, which seeks to implement contractual requirements for DOD contracts related to the recently proposed Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 Program. Comments on the proposed rule are due Oct. 15.

On Aug. 1, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee voted to advance two nominees to the National Labor Relations Board. Democrat Lauren McFerran鈥檚 nomination to serve another term as chair passed in a party-line vote, 11-10. The nomination of Republican Josh Ditelberg passed with a bipartisan vote of 18-3. A full Senate vote on these two nominations is not yet scheduled.

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act requires certain entities, including many small businesses, to report information about the individuals who ultimately own or control them (also known as their 鈥渂eneficial owners鈥�) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

On July 26, the National Labor Relations Board听issued its misnamed Fair Choice-Employee Voice final rule, which rescinds the ABC-supported 2020 Election Protection final rule, jeopardizing employees鈥� right of free choice in representational matters and disrupting the Board鈥檚 current representation processes. The 2020 final rule was听intended to听鈥渂etter听protect employees鈥� statutory right of free choice on questions concerning representation.鈥�

The Biden administration continues to roll back Trump-era initiatives and institute new, pro-union policies that challenge 老牛影视members鈥� ability to win work. 老牛影视is fighting against these proposed rules and regulations affecting merit shop contractors and advocating for open competition and free enterprise.

On July 3, 老牛影视submitted comments in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security鈥檚 Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency proposed rule on Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act Reporting Requirements. The rule imposes new cyberincident and ransom payment reporting requirements for companies deemed to have responsibility for critical infrastructure.

This year鈥檚 Camp NAIWC, sponsored by the National Association of Women in Construction鈥檚 Greater Washington, D.C., chapter, was held in June. The camp is a four-day, all-girls camp offering students in grades 7 through 12 experience in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical and more.

On July 19, the National Labor Relations Board moved to withdraw its appeal of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas鈥� decision to vacate the 2023 Joint Employer final rule, which means the court鈥檚 favorable decision will become final. The Board appealed the decision on May 7.