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2022 Midterm Election Outlook Though the outcome of the 2022 midterm elections remains uncertain, the odds of the Democrats retaining majorities in both the House and Senate are very slim. The lame duck session is expected to be the Democrats’ last best chance to get priority items passed before 2024. Congress will look quite different…

This Week in Congress This week both chambers of Congress were in session and during the September legislative work period, the House will vote on a continuing resolution to extend funding for the federal government until after the election, along with voting on H.R. 2988, the Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act; H.R. 832, the Ensuring a…

The Capitol’s Phase III Opening Begins This week, the public will be allowed into the Senate chamber as part of the “Phase 3” reopening, the Sergeant at Arms told Senate offices last week. Beginning 30 minutes before the Senate comes into session, two public galleries will open to visitors. These galleries will remain open until…

ASA Calls Upon House Leadership to Support the Small Business Payment Performance Act of 2022 ASA, along with the Construction Industry Procurement Coalition (CIPC), called upon House Leadership to support the Small Business Payment for Performance Act, H.R. 8273, requiring timely partial payments for agency directed changes to a federal contract.  This legislation, which ASA…

ASA Calls Upon the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee Leadership to Pass the Bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA 2022) ASA, along with the Construction Industry Procurement Coalition (CIPC), called upon the House Transportation Infrastructure Leadership to pass the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA 2022).   This legislation is an essential step…

ASA Urges the House Leadership to Support the PRICE Act ASA, along with the Construction Industry Procurement Coalition (CIPC), urges House Leadership to support for Providing Relief In Construction Expenses Act of 2022 (PRICE Act).  Time is money for all businesses, but more so during this time of economic and supply chain uncertainty. Equitable Price…

This Week in Congress The Senate returned this week after their August Recess with a packed agenda before November’s midterm elections, including voting on funding packages for Ukraine and pandemic aid.  Congress has a number of “must pass” bills before September 30th including reauthorizing FDA user fees and the continuing resolution (CR) to keep Federal…

The Biden Administration to Create 460 New Registered Apprenticeship Programs On September 1, 2022, the Biden Administration announced the creation of 460 new registered apprenticeship programs with more than 10,000 of those trained workers hired over the next year.  The initiative is entitled, “the Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative, a national network of more than 200 employers and industry…

DOL Secretary Walsh Calls for Overhaul of the Nation’s Immigration System On Tuesday, September 6, 2022, Labor Secretary Walsh said “the U.S. will eventually need to overhaul the nation’s immigration system, calling the lack of available workers to fill jobs a ‘bigger threat’ to the economy than inflation.  We don’t have enough workers in the…

NLRB Joint Employer Proposed Rule The NLRB’s proposed rule would expand the factors that can establish a joint employment relationship to include indirect and unexercised control over the terms and conditions of a job. Employers would be considered joint employers if they co-determine “essential terms and conditions of employment,” such as scheduling, wages, and benefits.…