Everyone has smartphones and tablets on the jobsite. But are you using the cameras on these devices as a competitive advantage? Most contractors are taking photographs on the job. But the experienced ones are using software which documents not only when the pictures were taken, but uses the GPS capabilities of the device to store the exact location as well. And the best contractors can pull up drawings on their tablet and see pins dropped automatically on the plans, showing where the pictures were taken. This type of progressive visual documentation can be invaluable not only to the owner, but to the contractor as well. During later phases of construction, say after the sheetrock has been in

老牛影视needs volunteer leaders for the launch of its Diversity Resource Groups (DRGs). Do you have a passion for diversity and inclusion? Do you have leadership experience in the construction industry? Would you like to assist 老牛影视members in becoming world class diversity leaders? Would you like to help 老牛影视drive industry diversity and inclusion in order to attract a diverse workforce to the construction industry?

老牛影视is encouraging all members to call on their Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor and support the 鈥淧rotecting Local Business Opportunity Act鈥� (S. 2015/ H.R. 3459). This important legislation will help provide additional stability for contractors, subcontractors and their employees by restoring the 30 year old 鈥渏oint employer鈥� standard, encouraging local business ownership and employee opportunity.

Great news! If you鈥檙e an employee of an Associated Builders and Contractors member, you may qualify for an 老牛影视member discount on auto insurance, in addition to GEICO's already low rates. The member discount is available in most states.听 Already a GEICO customer? Call GEICO and ask a customer service representative if you qualify for an additional discount as a member.

President Obama signed into law an ABC-supported, bipartisan change to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) the evening of Oct. 7. The bill signed into law, the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees (PACE) Act (H.R. 1624/ S. 1099), will remove the ACA requirement that mandates states to expand the small group definition. As a member of the 50-100 Coalition, 老牛影视urged Congress to pass the PACE Act in letters to the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate as well as to individual members of Congress.

老牛影视reiterated its opposition to the Department of Labor鈥檚 (DOL) one-size-fits-all overtime proposal ahead of the Oct. 8 U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee听 Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight and Regulations hearing on how the proposed regulation would impact small business owners and their employees. The proposed rule, which was issued July 6, makes changes to existing regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that define which employees are exempt from overtime pay.

Every year, senior development professionals and governments working in the public and private sector come together for an educational three-day conference to discuss complex issues surrounding public-private partnerships (P3s).听 Next year鈥檚 Public-Private Conference & Expo (P3C), one of the largest gatherings of development professionals in the country, takes place on March 7-9 at the Sheraton Hotel in Dallas. The agenda at this year鈥檚 conference features several talks about infrastructure related development and P3s.

The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals placed a nationwide stay听 on the Obama Administration鈥檚 controversial Waters of the United States (WOTUS) final rule on Oct. 9. The final rule, issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) May 27, greatly expands the Administration鈥檚 jurisdiction over water and land uses across the country under the Clean Water Act.

On Oct. 9, the ABC-led Construction Industry Safety Coalition submitted comments in response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration鈥檚 (OSHA) Request for Information (RFI) on Chemical Management and Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs). The RFI asked stakeholders how the agency should consider approaching health standard rulemaking, such as managing chemical exposures in workplaces.

Lewis Contractors of Owings Mills, Md., a member of ABC鈥檚 Baltimore Metro Chapter; and Ross & Associates, Ltd., of River Falls, Wisc., a member of ABC鈥檚 Wisconsin Chapter, have been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC.