An amendment which would exempt the Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) from the controversial 鈥淔air Pay and Safe Workplaces鈥� Executive Order 13673, proposed rule and guidance, commonly referred to as 鈥渂lacklisting,鈥� passed the House Armed Services Committee on April 28.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released three new fact sheets that are free to download from OSHA's Publications webpage. A ladder jack scaffolds fact sheet* illustrates how to prevent injuries from falls when using work platforms supported by portable ladders. A confined spaces fact sheet* emphasizes the OSHA requirement for employers to develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue or emergency services in permit-required confined spaces. Lastly, a fact sheet on longshoring in marine terminals* describes how to prevent semi-tractor driver injuries during container lifting operations.听

On April 28, 老牛影视submitted a letter to the chairmen of the congressional Task Force on Health Care Reform urging them to take action on common-sense health care solutions. 听In the letter, 老牛影视expressed its strong support for the task force鈥檚 mission to 鈥渕odernize American health care with a patient-centered system that gives patients more choice and control, increases quality, and reduces costs.鈥�

老牛影视reiterated its opposition to the Department of Labor鈥檚 (DOL) 鈥減ersuader rule鈥� ahead of the April 27 U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing on how the newly finalized regulation limits employers鈥� rights and undermines the right of workers to make informed decisions in union elections. The final rule, issued March 23, redefines 鈥減ersuader鈥� activity under the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) and triggers expanded reporting requirements for employers and their attorneys.听

The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship continued its oversight of the controversial 鈥淲aters of the U.S.鈥� (WOTUS) regulation April 27, holding a hearing on how small businesses were left out of the rulemaking process as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). At the hearing, members of the committee heard from stakeholders, who expressed concern about the onslaught of new regulations from the Obama administration and the detrimental impact they have on small businesses.

The U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee held a hearing on April 14 entitled Regulation Nation: The Hidden Small Business Tax , which examined the cost of new federal regulations to entrepreneurs in the small business community. During the hearing, members of the Committee heard from several small business owners who cited high compliance costs and expensive new mandates as a major impediment to expanding their businesses.听

On April 12, 老牛影视submitted comments in response to the U.S. Department (DOL) of Labor Wage and Hour Division鈥檚 proposed rule on establishing paid sick leave for federal contractors. The proposed rule 听requires certain federal contractors to offer employees up to seven days of paid sick leave annually, including paid leave for family care. The paid sick leave required by the proposal is in addition to a contractor鈥檚 obligations under the Service Contract Act (SCA) and Davis-Bacon Act (DBA). Therefore, a contractor may not receive credit toward its prevailing wage or fringe benefit obligation under the SCA and DBA for paid sick leave provided in satisfaction of the

On March 17, a group of lawmakers introduced ABC-supported legislation that would prevent the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) from implementing its overtime proposal. The proposed rule issued last June more than doubles the salary threshold to qualify as a white-collar employee exempt from federal overtime pay requirements and would automatically increase the salary levels on an annual basis.

On April 1, 老牛影视submitted comments in response to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission鈥檚 (EEOC) proposed revisions to the Employer Information Report (EEO-1), which would require employers with 100 or more employees to provide data on W-2 pay and hours worked, beginning in 2017. 老牛影视urged the EEOC to withdraw the proposal because it imposes an unjustified burden on employers, fails to generate useful and reliable information to combat pay discrimination, and fails to protect the confidentiality of the information.听

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 23 鈥� Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today issued the following statement in response to the release of the U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 (DOL) final 鈥減ersuader rule.鈥� The rule will greatly limit the ability of employers, particularly small businesses, to obtain advice from labor relations experts, and in turn deprive employees of their right to obtain balanced information about union representation.