Posts by Matt Zuiderhof

This Week in Congress This week, the House voted on several foreign policy measures, including bills to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” in federal law and cut off funding from the Department of Homeland Security to higher education institutions with ties to Chinese entities. The House also considered legislation to…

President Trump’s Skinny Budget! President Trump proposed slashing federal spending in his fiscal 2026 budget request, seeking to codify his administration’s efforts to shrink the size of government. The request calls on Congress to reduce nondefense discretionary spending by 17% through an array of cuts to most agencies and by eliminating dozens of programs. Although…

ASA Opposes Limits to Deduct State and Local Taxes (SALT) Paid ASA joined the Center for a Free Economy in a letter to congressional leadership to oppose any limits on the ability of businesses to deduct state and local taxes paid unless offset dollar for dollar by new and permanent pro-growth tax reforms. The ability…

DOL’s Guidance on How to Determine Employee or Independent Contractor Status The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued a field assistance bulletin providing guidance on determining employee or independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act. As the department reviews the 2024 final rule on Employee or Independent Contractor Classification, which…

DOL’s National Apprenticeship Program The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has established its first-ever national apprenticeship program aimed at training firefighters and first responders to address a shortage in this field. This new job training model, created by the International Association of Fire Fighters, uses the National Guideline Standards as a framework for organizations to…

This Week in Congress This week, Congress returns to Washington with plans to advance a budget reconciliation bill extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, funding immigration enforcement, and cutting spending. However, Republicans face ideological challenges and a slim House majority, needing to navigate complex Senate rules for controversial proposals. Urgency is added by the need to…

ASA SLDF WIN: Oregon Supreme Court Reverses Insurer’s Denial of Coverage to Contractor Over Contract Versus Tort Issue Under Jim Yand’s guidance, ASA’s Subcontractor Legal Defense Fund (SLDF) won a decision aiding contractors in securing coverage for construction defects. The Oregon Supreme Court in Twigg v. Admiral 371 Or. 308 (2025) ruled that a commercial…

ASA Defends General Services Administration (GSA)’s Infrastructure Funding ASA participated in an initiative to defend the General Services Administration (GSA)’s funding for innovative US-made construction materials, specifically low-carbon cement, asphalt, steel, and glass. In a letter to Senate and House Leadership, we requested Congress to maintain the $2.15 billion already allocated to the GSA via…

ASA Supports Electric Vehicle Fee in the House Reconciliation Package Investing in the nation’s infrastructure provides economic benefits. Recent congressional support for roads, bridges and public transportation systems has delivered projects to every congressional district across the country. These improvements have enhanced safety, mobility and efficiency nationwide. This is made possible by the continuity and…

President Trump’s Workforce Executive Order Last week, an executive order (EO) was announced to direct the federal government to revamp its workforce development programs. The aim is to support reindustrialization, economic growth, and labor empowerment by providing U.S. workers with skills necessary for high-demand, well-paying jobs, particularly in emerging and industrial sectors.  The EO would…