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51���� Learns More About Loan Forgiveness for PPP Loans Over $2 Million

Texas and Wyoming Have Worst Job Losses in the Past Year, While Utah and Idaho Top Gainers; Texas and Iowa Rebound the Most from February’s Storms, as Nevada Posts Biggest Monthly Loss

Calling it a “Vital Safety Issue,” Associated General Contractors of America, Other Groups, are Partnering with the CDC to Spend Week of April 19th Urging Construction Workers to Get Vaccinated When They Can

51���� filed comments opposing the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division’s (WHD) recent proposals to withdrawal the Independent Contractor status and rescind the Joint Employer definition under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 51���� supports the Trump administration’s previous revisions to both rules, opposes these recent DOL actions and fully expects the opportunity to provide public input on any future revision or adoption of guidance regarding either rule.

On April 15, 51���� participated in a small roundtable with the White House’s National Economic Council centered on President Biden’s Executive Order on Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers. The executive order directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council to consider proposing amendments to the FAR to promote enforcement of the Buy American Act of 1933. The White House staff briefed 51���� on the direction of proposed rulemaking and 51���� gave feedback to better inform the FAR Council’s as to the impact domestic product preference policies have on those building the nation’s infrastructure. 51���� will continue to advocate for the construction industry to ensure that policy makers are well informed about the uniqueness of construction.

$1 Billion in RAISE Grants Tied to Administration’s Policy Objectives

Senate Republicans are reportedly preparing a counteroffer to the White House’s $2 trillion infrastructure proposal. West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito and others in a Republican working group have stated that such a proposal would be in the range of $600 to $800 billion, more targeted in scope— focusing on traditional infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports, airports, broadband, and water infrastructure— and would be funded by unspecified user fees. 51���� will continue to monitor Congressional activity on infrastructure and surface transportation reauthorization negotiations.

According to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc., construction executive staff wage increases came in at 3.8% for 2020 and are projected to rise by an average 3.4% in 2021. Though it is pointed out that historically executive staff predictions are low and readers are warned that it might not be until late in the second quarter that we get a better sense of true year end expectations.

51���� chapters and members should be aware that fraudulent unemployment claims are on the rise. While this has been a problem throughout the pandemic and while the construction industry is not a unique target, many 51���� members have reported experiencing such claims and some have reported a spike in recent weeks.

Now that the country is on course to see all adult Americans eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in a matter of days, and an increasing number of employees are returning to the workplace, vaccination status is likely to be an increasingly common topic over the coming weeks and months. This has led many 51���� members to ask: when and how can employers ask their workers whether they’ve been vaccinated without getting into hot water? Whether it’s an innocent question asked while trying to make conversation or an inquiry posed to determine whether someone can return to normal duties, employers need to understand their legal rights and obligations regarding this serious topic. Missteps can easily lead to legal complications.