The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued the final听鈥淲aters of the U.S.鈥澨�(WOTUS) rule May 27. The final rule will go into effect 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register (rule has not been published).听

The Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council released a听proposed rule听and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued proposed听guidance听May 27, as directed by President Obama鈥檚 July 31, 2014, sweeping 鈥渂lacklisting鈥� Executive Order 13673 targeting the federal contracting community.

Ever wonder what impact you could have on decisions made on Capitol Hill? During ABC鈥檚 2015听Legislative Week听June 22-26, in Washington, D.C., you have the opportunity to show the country鈥檚 decision-makers how certain legislative activity is affecting the construction industry and your business.听

Throughout听Safety Week 2015, May 3-9, ABC, its鈥� members and many other organizations within the construction industry partnered to highlight the importance of being safe both on and off the jobsite.听To kick off both Safety Week 2015 and OSHA鈥檚 annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, 老牛影视conducted a toolbox talk stand-down event in Washington, DC with members HITT Construction and Power Design, Inc. for more than 200 employees on a HITT and Power Design Atlantic Plumbing jobsite. The event covered personal fall arrest system orientation, personal protective equipment inspections, slips, trips and falls, and incorporated electrical loc

Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) signed the ABC-led repeal of common construction wage into law May 6, eliminating prevailing wage requirements for publicly-funded construction projects in Indiana effective July 1. The 老牛影视Indiana/Kentucky chapter played a significant role in ensuring the state understood the negative effects the legislation has on taxpayers, helping to make Indiana the 19th state with no prevailing wage requirements on taxpayer-funded construction.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) will be joining us as the keynote speaker at the Free Enterprise Alliance Reception June 23 during Legislative Week. Sen. Ernst, elected in November 2014, is the first woman to serve in federal elected office from the State of Iowa and the first female combat veteran elected to serve in the United States Senate. Join us June 23 as we hear from Sen. Ernst and her thoughts on today鈥檚 political environment as it relates to ABC, the construction industry and the merit shop.

The U.S. Senate passed the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget (S. Con Res 11) for Fiscal Year 2016, May 5 which contains ABC-supported language adopted during Senate Vote-A-Rama, that would restrict the use of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs). The budget was previously passed by the House on April 30.听

The U.S. House of Representatives听passed听the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act April 30 for Fiscal Year 2016 (H.R. 2029). While on the floor, two amendments were introduced that impact federal contractors.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have issued three surveys soliciting comments from the construction industry on the potential use of project labor agreements (PLA) on projects in California and Texas.听

As a member of ABC, you have the opportunity to attend the Petrochemical Engineering & Construction Conference, June 16-17, New Orleans, La., and get an exclusive $100 registration discount. The conference will bring together the leading operators and contractors working at the heart of North America鈥檚 largest petrochemical construction projects. 听