National Safety Excellence Award (NSEA) applications are due Oct. 25 and can be downloaded onÌýABC’s website. All 2013 Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Diamond and Platinum recipients are eligible to apply; there is no fee to participate. New for 2013, STEP Gold recipients may also apply for the NSEA by submitting the NSEA Gold application and $450 application fee. ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓmembers who do not have STEP status can learn more about STEP onÌýABC’s website.Ìý

ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓPelican Chapter President Alvin Bargas discussed the importance of career and technical education (CTE) programs to the construction industry in testimony Sept. 20 during a congressional subcommittee hearing.

The Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Sept. 9 issued proposed regulations related to the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer and insurer information reporting requirements under Internal Revenue Code sections 6055 and 6056.Ìý

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)Ìýpublished two final rulesÌýSept. 24, drastically revisingÌýSection 4212Ìýof theÌýVietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance ActÌý(VEVRAA) andÌýSection 503Ìýof the Rehabilitation Act, which require federal contractors and subcontractors to maintain affirmative action and nondiscrimination plans for veterans and individuals with disabilities, respectively. The rules will go into effect March 24, 2014.Ìý

AÌýstudy completed by the Tax FoundationÌýfound that, with pass-through businesses surpassing traditional corporations in number, individual tax rates with higher burdens impact hiring and other investment plans, causing an already struggling economy to remain unstable.

On October 22-23, in San Antonio, Texas, ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓwill bring together industrial construction users and merit shop contractors for the first annual Industrial Users Summit. ÌýThe goal is to discuss common issues that affect the way projects are planned and delivered and demonstrate how merit shop contractors deliver value to customers. The Summit also gives ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓmember contractors an opportunity to understand what owners need in the planning and delivery process.

TheÌýÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓNational Diversity Excellence AwardsÌýrecognize members that display exemplary diversity leadership in their workforce, supply chain and community with best-in-class recruitment policies, retention practices, and training and mentoring programs. Registration is open until Nov. 15.

The National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP) and the Association of Defense Communities are co-hosting the ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓsponsoredÌý4th Annual Federal Energy Workshop and Defense Energy Partnership Forum, October 8-9, Arlington, Va., which will focus on finding solutions to the issues facing the federal energy market. RegisterÌýhere.

The National Craft Championships (NCC) Intent to Compete deadline is fast approaching. ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓmembers and chapters that want to send their best craft trainees to compete in the 2014 competition should have their competitors submit a form before Dec. 6. Visitwww.nationalcraftchampionships.orgÌýfor more information.Ìý

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has issued two surveys soliciting comments from the construction industry on the potential use of a project labor agreement (PLA) for projects in Fort Greely, Alaska and the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.