ASAToday for July 17th, 2025

U.S. Department of Labor Delays Independent Contractor Rule On Tuesday, March 2, 2021, the U.S. Labor Department has delayed implementation of the Trump Administration’s rule to classify workers as independent contractors.  Per President Biden’s Inauguration Day Directive to freeze all pending regulations, this rule will now be effective on May 7, 2021; however, DOL’s Wage…

IRAP Rule Reversed President Biden reversed a 2017 Trump Executive Order that called for the Labor Department to launch industry-recognized apprenticeship programs (IRAPs).  The Biden administration will instead focus on the Labor Department’s traditional registered apprenticeships.  The IRAP model would give employers more flexibility in training workers without the registered apprenticeship process.  The industry-recognized system…

Construction Dive Highlights ASA Houston Video Construction Dive has featured a video produced by the Houston Chapter of ASA. In the video, “Essential: A Tribute to Construction Working Through COVID”, essential workers discuss everything from the rapid changes that needed to be addressed on the jobsite, to being a primary breadwinner for a family when…

Earmarks May Return Last Friday Chair DeLauro outlined the framework of community project funding known as earmarks.  In addition to adhering to the House Rules (House Rules XXI and XXIII), the House Appropriations Committee is enforcing a series of reforms to guarantee that Community Project Funding is dedicated to genuine need and not subject to abuse.  Earmarks…