Government Affairs News

Press Release Nov 15 2021

SMACNA Celebrates Historic Infrastructure Deal as an Industry Win

SMACNA announced its support for the long awaited and historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The $1.2 trillion deal cleared the U.S. Senate in August and the House of Representatives in November.

MEMBER UPDATE Nov 04 2021

Congress Passes Short-term Extension

SMACNA strongly supports final passage of Senate-passed infrastructure bill

MEMBER UPDATE Sep 30 2021

Federal Vaccine Guidance

Employees of federal contractors (and subcontractors) have until December 8 to be fully vaccinated or request and receive a medical or religious accommodation.

MEMBER UPDATE Sep 30 2021

PBGC Solvency Extended 30 Years

New projections show improved outlook for PBGC

MEMBER UPDATE Sep 30 2021

SMACNA CEO Addresses Presidential Task Force

Among many salient points, Sandusky emphasized the importance of investing in a skilled and trained workforce.

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MEMBER UPDATE Sep 23 2021

Infrastructure Op-Ed Drive Home Message on Infrastructure

SMACNA’s Sandusky co-authors opinion piece on the need to broaden the definition of infrastructure to include public and private buildings in federal and state infrastructure packages.

SMACNEWS Sep 03 2021

Capitol Hill Update: Main St. Efficiency Act | Davis-Bacon | COVID Reimbursement | School Retrofits

SMACNA joined leading business and efficiency groups in supporting small business efficiency upgrade incentives that will be simplified with the Main Street Efficiency Act of 2021.

MEMBER UPDATE Aug 26 2021

CIC has Active Summer

Congressional Insider Club members socialize with legislators while promoting the industry.

Chapter Leadership Aug 19 2021

White House Issues State Fact Sheets Highlighting Impact of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

The White House released state fact sheets to highlight the nationwide impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the largest long-term investment in the country’s infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century.

MEMBER UPDATE Aug 11 2021

Law Ends Reverse Auctions for Construction Services

SMACNA applauds the passage of The Construction Consensus Procurement Improvement Act of 2021.

MEMBER UPDATE Aug 04 2021

American Rescue Plan Tax Credits Expanded

Businesses with fewer than 500 employees can use expanded tax credits for employees who take time off to assist a family or household member who is getting vaccinated against Covid-19.

MEMBER UPDATE Jul 28 2021

National Issues Conference Recap

On July 21, the Construction Employers of America (CEA) hosted both Regulators and Representatives from Congress to discuss several issues and pending legislation that will have an immediate impact on SMACNA members and the industry.

SMACNews Jun 29 2021

Prevailing Wage, Buy American, Energy Efficiency and Labor Standards Efforts

Bills that will benefit energy efficiency and increase SMACNA contractor market opportunities are also under consideration. There is an encouraging amount of focus on federal labor standards favorable to SMACNA members in infrastructure and energy bills.

CHAPTER LEADERSHIP Jun 10 2021

June Capitol Hill Update: Congressional Response to COVID-19, Agenda Highlights and More

Featured topics in this most recent Legislative Update include recent developments surrounding the Congressional response to COVID-19, with a strong focus on legislation that has been passed, and the current Congressional agenda leading up to and beyond the August recess.

Chapter Leadership May 06 2021

Speak Out on Behalf of Our Industry: Engage with Your Elected Officials

SMACNA National’s Capitol Hill Office staff work tirelessly to advance the interests of our members and represent our industry in Congress.

Webinar May 06 2021

Pension Plans and the American Rescue Plan

The recently passed American Recovery Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) included several provisions that could impact multiemployer plans. This webinar for SMACNA members, chapter executives, and trustees outlined key provisions in the ARPA that are applicable to our industry.

SMACNews Apr 30 2021

Capitol Hill Update: SMACNA Endorses Major School Construction and Retrofit Legislation

School Construction, COVID Tax Credits and Recently Endorsed Bills SMACNA has expressed support for S. 96, “The Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act” sponsored by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and 27 cosponsors.

Member Update Mar 25 2021

ARPA Includes Pension Reforms, COBRA Subsidies

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was signed into law March 11, 2021 (P.L. 117 - 2). This article summarizes an eight-page Multi-Elert from the National Coordinating Committee on Multiemployer Plans (NCCMP) on the Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2021 (EPPRA) provisions included in ARP.

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SMACNews Feb 28 2021

Capitol Hill Update: Budget Reconciliation, COVID Relief, Pension Reform Among Items Before Congress

The Senate is concentrating on Biden Administration Cabinet appointments, and the Senate and House both remain focused on producing a COVID-19 relief package that meet budget and reconciliation rules to avoid a Senate filibuster.

SMACNews Dec 01 2020

Capitol Hill Update: Composite Plans and Pension Relief Negotiations Falter

Bipartisan agreement on pension relief, along with authorization of Composite Plans, could not be reached in time to be included in the final bills of this session of Congress.

SMACNews Oct 31 2020

Capitol Hill Update: Pensions in Legislative Limbo

Pension relief and Composite Plans were in previous House-passed bills and Composites were included in the Grassley-Alexander pension proposal, so there had been high expectations pensions and Composite Plans would be included in a negotiated stimulus package.

SMACNews

Capitol Hill Update: Pensions Relief, COVID Deal Stalls, GA Outdoors Act, School Retrofits

The Senate and the House left Washington without agreement on a new COVID relief bill. The stalemate is not good news for SMACNA pension efforts.

SMACNews Jun 10 2020

PPP Flexibility Act Becomes Law; SBA/Treasury Clarify New Rules Under the Act/Loan Program Extended

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act, Public Law Number 116–142, with changes to PPP strongly supported by SMACNA, was signed into law by the president on June 5, 2020. The legislation provides more time for PPP borrowers to use their loan funds, qualify for loan forgiveness and gain additional relief from the program’s original requirements.

SMACNews Mar 31 2020

Capitol Hill Update: Pension Reform Amid COVID-19 Legislative Frenzy

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting health and economic devastation has certainly diverted a lot of attention from the pension issue, but key members of Congress and staff have continued the negotiation process.

SMACNews Feb 28 2020

The 2020 Focus on Pensions

While the 2018 Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans could not overcome political divisions to solve the pension crisis, it did launch the 2019 effort for a bipartisan solution and comprehensive reform.

SMACNews Dec 20 2019

The Battle for Multiemployer Pension Reform: SMACNA Engaged as Serious Negotiations Begin

It is important to make sure that multiemployer reform proposals are set up to protect contributing employers, the industry, and the multiemployer system.

SMACNews Oct 25 2019

Capitol Hill Update: SMACNA Endorsed Energy Efficiency, CHP/WHP Credits; 179D Gaining Momentum

SMACNA has joined with energy efficiency allies and advanced a letter to both the House and Senate tax committee leaders.

SMACNews Aug 20 2019

Capitol Hill Update: Multiemployer Plan Pensions

As previously reported in a SMACNA Alert, on July 24 the House of Representatives passed H.R. 397 the so-called Butch Lewis Act that would establish a gov-ernment funded Pension Rehabilitation Trust Fund to provide loans to failing plans that many experts think may never be repaid.

SMACNews Jun 20 2019

Capitol Hill Update: SMACNA Supports House Bill to Repeal "Cadillac Tax" on Health Care Benefits

SMACNA supports the bipartisan legislation, “The Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019,” H.R. 748, which was recently referred to the House by the House Ways and Means Committee.

SMACNews May 20 2019

Capitol Hill Update - A SMACNA Priority: Contract Change Order Reform Introduced in Congress

Due to its popularity with contractors nationwide, federal change order reform has recently been reintroduced in Congress. It has bipartisan support and a promising future of passage.

Government Affairs News

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