91¶ÌÊÓƵ recently submitted comments on the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) notice of proposed rulemaking on how to satisfy the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements (PWA) for enhanced tax benefits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This was the second round of guidance and request for input. Treasury and the IRS previously provided guidance on the PWA requirements in 2022, to which 91¶ÌÊÓƵ submitted extensive feedback.
On November 7, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ weighed in against a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed rule to increase the threshold for coverage of overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act by nearly 70 percent, from $35,568 to $60,209, for a litany of reasons. As both the association and its coalition partners explain, the proposal would be too much for employers (especially small business construction companies) to absorb at one time and would, accordingly, threaten employees’ future.
The Consulting Constructors' Council (CCC) is proud to announce the upcoming California Dreamin' Gala, Tuesday March 19, 2024 at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina held in conjunction with the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ of America annual Convention. It will be a night filled with inspiration, camaraderie, and a commitment to shaping the future of construction education—benefitting the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Education & Research Foundation.
If you work in-house at a construction firm and cover environmental issues, you may be interested in 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s peer discussion meeting on Feb. 7 at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s headquarters in Arlington, Va. 91¶ÌÊÓƵ holds these small, focused discussion sessions twice a year at the request of the members to learn from their peers with similar responsibilities, opportunities and challenges.
On November 9, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that the newly updated EM 385-1-1 has been finalized. The manual details safety and health requirements for all USACE construction activities and operations, including Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) construction contracts.
On November 3, the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel delivered their final report on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) potential Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Settings standard to OSHA. The agency has posted the report to the assigned regulatory docket and posted it on its Heat Injury and Illness SBREFA webpage.
On November 13, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ along with twenty-two of its Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC) partners, submitted comments raising significant concerns about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) proposal to expand who can serve as the employee representative during the walkaround portion of enforcement inspections.