Archive for May 2021

Sens. Marshall, Burr, and Scott’s Opposition Letter to OSHA’s ETS for COVID-19 On May 3, 2021, Sens. Marshall (R-KS), Burr (R-NC), and Scott (R-SC) sent an opposition letter to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Walsh regarding an issuance of an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for COVID-19 by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Per…

U.S. House Requests $14.9 Billion in Earmarks Members of the U.S. House have requested $14.9 billion in spending on earmarked projects for a transportation bill that will be the vehicle for President Biden’s economic agenda.  Republicans joined Democrats in making use of the new earmark process, inaugurated after the practice was effectively banned for a…

This Week in Congress The House and Senate were not in session this week, but the fate of President Biden’s $4 trillion economic vision for the U.S. now rests with members of Congress turning his infrastructure and social-spending plans into legislation that can get through a narrowly divided Congress. Congress approved his $1.9 trillion coronavirus-relief…

ASA Supports Continued Investment in Surface Transportation Funding ASA joined the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) in applauding the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure’s work last year on the $1.5 trillion Moving Forward Act, H.R. 2. This legislation marked the broadest and most robust proposed levels of federal investment in the nation’s transportation infrastructure ever…

ASA Supports Exemption Legislation for Increasing Bond Thresholds ASA, along with the Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) and the National Association of Bond Producers (NASBP), commend Chairwoman Velazquez (D-NY) and Rep. Donalds (R-FL) for the introduction of H.R. 2949. This legislation will ensure essential payment protections for subcontractors, suppliers, and workers and ensure…

President Biden Issues Executive Order Increasing Minimum Wage for Federal Employees This update is from SESCO Management Consultants, ASA’s Human Resource partner. President Biden has issued Executive Order 14026, which increases the minimum wage for workers on or in connection with a federal government contract to $15.00 as of January 30, 2022, with annual increases…

SUBExcel 2022 Registration Opens June 15th! ASA is proud to announce that SUBExcel 2022 will take place March 9-12, 2022 in Miramar Beach, FL. Mark your calendars today for this incredible event and start planning now to bring your entire family to the beach! Event highlights include: Speakers and educational sessions that can change the…

OSHA’s New Enforcement Guidance on Beryllium Dust On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, OSHA issued new enforcement guidance for inspectors looking into potential cases of workers exposed to beryllium dust.  The guidance applies to all types of beryllium inspections, including checks of manufacturers using beryllium as well as shipyards and construction sites where trace amounts of…

EEOC Opens 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 Data Collection This update is from SESCO Management Consultants, ASA’s Human Resources partner. After postponing the opening of the 2019 EEO-1 Component 1 Data Collection on May 8, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) has announced that the 2019 and…

CDC Guidance on No Mask Wearing on Outdoor Construction Sites On April 27, 2021, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new federal guidance on when fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask outdoors.  Per the CDC, a fully vaccinated person, defined as someone who had their final required…