Congressional leaders release bipartisan and bicameral compromise on workforce reform
Key lawmakers in the House and Senate have agreed on a final version of A Stronger Workforce for America Act (H.R. 6655), legislation NRCA supports to reform workforce training programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. This bipartisan legislation will provide new tools for employers to meet future workforce needs by streamlining the bureaucracy and providing more flexibility within workforce programs to improve access for employers, especially small businesses. It will improve the ability of state and local workforce boards to spur innovation and be more responsive to regional workforce shortages to help close the skills gap. In its original form, H.R. 6655 passed the House in April on a bipartisan vote of 378-26.
The new agreement combines most of H.R. 6655 with additional reforms in a bipartisan Senate amendment. Reform of workforce training programs have been a priority for NRCA during Roofing Day in D.C., and we believe the final bill will greatly expand opportunities for members to address workforce development. Join NRCA in urging Congress to pass this legislation before the end of the year by emailing your senators and representatives.
How could President-elect Trump’s potential tariff policies affect your business?
President-elect Trump has taken to social media recently to encourage Canada and Mexico to do more to stop the influx of fentanyl and migrants at U.S. borders by pledging a new 25% tariff on all imports from the two countries while also announcing an additional 10% tariff on imports from China. During the holiday weekend, he also proposed adding 100% tariffs on imports from China and other BRICS countries (which includes Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa) if they do not support the U.S. dollar. These proposals, if carried out, could greatly affect the supply chain of most U.S. manufacturers and businesses. During the presidential campaign, President-elect Trump also proposed at least a 60% tariff on all Chinese goods and a 10-20% tariff on imports from other countries.
It is unclear how many details of these proposals ultimately will take effect. Are these negotiation starting points or a best and final offer from Trump? The past two administrations have used tariffs as a foreign and economic policy tool, and Congress has passed legislation to delegate much of that authority to the executive branch. However, Congress and the public will have a seat at the table regarding where the president ultimately lands on this decision. Some of these announcements are changing behavior, at least publicly, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meeting with President-elect Trump in person a few days after the proposal and Mexico’s President Sheinbaum saying she is confident a tariff war with Trump can be averted after speaking with him during the week of Nov. 25.
NRCA members should evaluate how their businesses may be affected by potential tariffs and start planning to absorb any shocks as much as possible. Members may consider alternative suppliers or materials, raising prices or relocating operations. Another option is to make the case for a tariff exemption. Historically, exemptions have been granted if the product in question is exclusively available from a tariffed country and if the tariff would cause significant economic hardship to individual businesses and/or U.S. interests.
As often is the case, it is important to remember none of these policies will (or will not) occur in a vacuum. Congress will be working in 2025 to extend or expand tax relief, reduce regulation and government waste, and bring inflation under control. NRCA members who would like to be added to our tariff update email list can add their contact information here or reach out to Deb Mazol, director of federal affairs, at dmazol@nrca.net.
The departments of Homeland Security and Labor issue temporary final rule regarding supplemental H-2B visas
The departments of Homeland Security and Labor have published a temporary final rule in the Federal Register to authorize the release of 64,716 supplemental visas for the H-2B seasonal nonagricultural worker program for 2025. The supplemental visas are in addition to the 66,000 visas authorized annually by law and will be allocated during the course of fiscal year 2025, which began Oct. 1. This supplemental allocation will consist of 44,716 visas available to returning workers who received a visa or were otherwise granted H-2B status during one of the previous three fiscal years. The remaining 20,000 visas will be reserved for nationals from Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras. The temporary final rule outlines the requirements employers must comply with to apply for the supplemental visas. View additional information about this allocation of H-2B visas.
ROOFPAC is thankful for YOU this holiday season!
During this season of thanks, we are grateful to all who support ROOFPAC—the only political action committee dedicated to the roofing industry—in personal donations that can help support pro-business elected officials or in corporate contributions to help fund our events, such as our recent reception in Austin, Texas, during NRCA’s Fall Committee Meetings. Supporters enjoyed a lively speakeasy atmosphere featuring NRCA- and roofing-inspired cocktails such as “the 1886” and the “Roofer’s Rocket Fuel.” To learn more about ROOFPAC, please visit https://nrca.net/advocacy/roofpac and consider joining our events during the International Roofing Expo® in San Antonio; the live auction and reception will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Feb. 18, 2025, at Smoke Skybar, and the popular silent auction with amazing prizes will be displayed in NRCA’s booth through 4 p.m. CST Feb. 20.
