The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers April 21 published a proposed rule that aims to clarify the definition of "waters of the U.S." under the Clean Water Act which would significantly expand federal control of land and water resources across the nation鈥攃reating additional permitting and regulatory requirements. The public has until July 21 to submit written comments on the proposed rule.

Many 老牛影视members were greeted with a significant tax increase this tax day, April 15. Construction contractors who survived the recession already paid the highest effective tax rate of any sector, and now they face even higher taxes thanks to rising marginal rates, reinstated limits on deductions, and new surtaxes on wages and income stemming from the health care law.

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Thomas Perez faced tough questions from House appropriators on two ABC-opposed Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) actions at an April 2 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee hearing.

To coincide with Equal Pay Day, President Obama April 8 issued听two executive actions听dealing with equal pay for women, specifically prohibiting federal contractors from retaliating against employees who discuss their compensation with fellow employees and requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to submit compensation data to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).听

老牛影视and more than 1,200 members filed comments requesting the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) withdraw its controversial鈥渁mbush鈥� election proposed rule. In addition, the ABC-led Coalition for a Democratic Workplace filed听comments听against the proposed rule with support from more than 140 local organizations, including over 40 老牛影视chapters.

老牛影视today celebrated an important decision limiting the scope of the Davis-Bacon Act issued by a U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.听 In a March 31 decision granting summary judgment to the District of Columbia (the District) and private developer CCDC Office LLC (CCDC), Judge Amy Berman Jackson rejected the U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 (DOL) unprecedented ruling that the Davis-Bacon Act can be expanded to include privately funded projects.

The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate March 27 introduced three bills to reverse key elements of the National Labor Relations Board鈥檚 (NLRB) contentious 鈥渁mbush election鈥� rule. The NLRB鈥檚 proposed rule dramatically shortens the amount of time between when a union files a representation petition and when an election takes place to as few as 10 days in addition to requiring employers to submit their employees鈥� personal contact information to union organizers.

The ABC-led Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC)听testified in front of OSHA March 24 on a proposed rule that would drastically lower the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of respirable crystalline silica for the construction industry.

The U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) 听two recently finalized rules go into effect March 24, 2014. The rules drastically alter federal contractors鈥� existing affirmative action and nondiscrimination obligations with respect to听veterans and individuals with disabilities.

On March 10, the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued final rules on information reporting by applicable large employers on health insurance coverage offered under employer-sponsored plans and information reporting of minimum essential coverage. The final regulations relate to the Affordable Care Act鈥檚 (ACA) employer and insurer information reporting requirements under Internal Revenue Code sections 6055 and 6056.