Government Affairs News

MEMBER UPDATE Aug 11 2022

President Biden signs CHIPS+ Act into Law

SMACNA-supported legislation includes Davis-Bacon, registered apprenticeships requirements and Buy American guidelines.

SMACNEWS Jul 06 2022

New OSHA “National Emphasis Program” Heats Up

Initiative will use “proactive outreach” and “compliance assistance” to reduce and prevent heat-related worker injuries and fatalities.

SMACNA in the News Apr 18 2022

SMACNA MEMBER CALL-TO-ACTION ON DAVIS-BACON

Help Get Davis-Bacon Reform Over the Finish Line

For the first time in 40 years, the DOL is proposing rule changes that reflect the current needs of SMACNA Members. SMACNA needs your participation to comment favorably - see how to comment below.

Statement Mar 11 2022

SMACNA Applauds Effort to Update and Enhance Enforcement of the Davis-Bacon Act

SMACNA Applauds Long Overdue Effort by Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division to Seek Constructive Reforms to Update and Enhance Enforcement of the Davis-Bacon Act.

MEMBER UPDATE Feb 03 2022

Biden Administration Releases Guide for Infrastructure Law

The new publication, titled Building a Better America, allows stakeholders better to understand the recently passed $1.2 trillion infrastructure law.

SMACNEWS

Capitol Hill Update: Infrastructure Law a Big Win for SMACNA Contractors

Pres. Biden signed into law the largest infrastructure investment package seen in decades, 1.8 trillion Build Back Better Act passed House, and a looming government shutdown was barely averted.

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.

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.

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

Government Affairs News

President Biden signs CHIPS+ Act into Law

New OSHA “National Emphasis Program” Heats Up

Help Get Davis-Bacon Reform Over the Finish Line

SMACNA Applauds Effort to Update and Enhance Enforcement of the Davis-Bacon Act

Biden Administration Releases Guide for Infrastructure Law

Capitol Hill Update: Infrastructure Law a Big Win for SMACNA Contractors

SMACNA Celebrates Historic Infrastructure Deal as an Industry Win

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

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

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

Pension Plans and the American Rescue Plan

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

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

Capitol Hill Update: Composite Plans and Pension Relief Negotiations Falter

Capitol Hill Update: Pensions in Legislative Limbo

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

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

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

The 2020 Focus on Pensions

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

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

Capitol Hill Update: Multiemployer Plan Pensions

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

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

SMACNA Endorses Bipartisan Bill to Speed Hospitality Retrofits

Government Affairs News

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