The White House has outlined a final rule implementing the American Rescue Plan’s Special Financial Assistance (SFA) program, billed as protecting “millions of workers in multiemployer pension plans who faced significant cuts to their benefits.” Before American Rescue, retirees participating in more than 200 multiemployer pension plans faced the prospect of not receiving full benefits—often the consequence of past financial…
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Labor Department turns back clock on apprenticeship programs
The U.S. Department of Labor is reviewing nominations for members to serve on the newly reinstated National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships. Candidates will include a diverse set of stakeholders—from those representing unions, employers or apprentices to community colleges and other institutions—to build a Registered Apprenticeship Program. Members will focus on expanding apprenticeships into fast-growing industries and sectors to create more…
Read MoreWhite House looks to future in major rewrite of National Environmental Policy Act
In a move garnering wide praise from construction and business interests, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced its final rule to comprehensively update and modernize National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations for the first time in over 40 years. Among leaders praising last month’s action, Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao noted, “These much-needed common sense reforms will help cut red tape and speed delivery of infrastructure projects all across America.”
Read MoreWorkforce development the White House order of the day
Associated Builders and Contractors is among 20-plus charter signatories to “Pledge to America’s Workers,” supporting a White House initiative, National Council for the American Worker, that President Donald Trump created by Executive Order. The Council is charged with developing a strategy for training and retraining workers across high demand industries.
Read MoreWhite House envisions shift of Corps functions to Transportation, Interior
As part of sweeping Executive Branch reform announced late last month, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposes to move Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works functions—coastal and inland commercial navigation programs; flood and storm damage reduction; and, aquatic ecosystem restoration—from the Department of Defense to the Departments of Transportation and Interior (DOT, DOI).
Read MorePark Service contractor deploys vacuum lifting for new White House steps
Sources: Vacuworx, Tulsa, Okla.; CP staff
The National Park Service’s Frederick, Md.-based Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) deployed a Vacuworx lifting system to set 46 new Missouri limestone slabs, topping out at 2,400 lbs., during the recent White House South Portico stairway reconstruction. The diesel-powered device pulls a vacuum between lifting pads and objects to be placed, securing a positive seal.
Read MoreTrump: Concrete friend, regulation foe
Private sector employers, employees and job seekers will soon have a friend in the White House. Before looking at the new administration’s promise, a brief look back to November 2001, when this column noted Donald Trump’s appreciation for quality construction. The then-celebrity developer had assessed post-Twin Towers building practice in a prime time exchange with ABC 20/20 host Barbara Walters, citing “more concrete,” as a means of constructing “a great building a lot tougher than the World Trade Center turned out to be.”
Read MoreResilient Building Standard ups home values, study finds
Past, present and future property loss mitigation was examined at a White House Forum on Smart Finance for Disaster Resilience (note page 10) panel discussion, whose participants included the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).
Read MoreInsurance interests take note of resilience-wise White House policy
Continuing to focus on how to mitigate increasing economic consequences of extreme weather and other climate-related risks, especially as they relate to the architectural/engineering/construction community and the built environment, the White House hosted Forum on Smart Finance for Disaster Resilience. State and local government officials, along with insurance and financial services stakeholders, assembled last month to learn about new investment approaches and incentive programs presently deployed in communities, and to explore potential innovative financing mechanisms.
Read MoreSweeping agency actions show White House all in on codes & standards-driven resiliency
Sources: White House Briefing Room; CP staff
“Building codes set the baseline for the safe design and construction of our homes, schools, and workplaces, providing the minimum requirements to adequately safeguard the health, safety and welfare of occupants,” the Obama administration noted in a statement on the Conference on Resilient Building Codes. The White House-hosted, May 10 event saw announcement of actions across federal agencies overseeing or influencing building and nonbuilding construction:
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