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News Oct. 21, 2021

This Week in D.C.

Senate announces draft funding levels for career and technical education

On Oct. 18, the Senate Appropriations Committee released drafts of its remaining spending bills, including legislation that provides about $1.385 billion for the Perkins Basic State Grant Program—a $50 million increase compared with the previous fiscal year. This increase matches the level of funding passed by the House in July and was a top priority issue for Roofing Day in D.C. 2021. NRCA continues to advocate for increases in career and technical education to meet the industry’s workforce challenges, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.


Can you believe this?

The Department of Treasury is suggesting a proposal to require financial institutions to track and submit to the IRS information on every individual account above a de minimis threshold of transactions above $600 or up to $10,000 during the year. The department would like to include this mandate as a provision within the upcoming budget reconciliation bill. NRCA believes this proposal creates serious privacy concerns and could increase tax preparation costs for individuals and small businesses. If you share NRCA’s concern, take a moment to email your legislators through the NRCA Action Alert: Urge your members of Congress to oppose the inclusion of the proposed new tax information reporting requirement.

Deep dive: DHS changes immigration enforcement focus, ending worksite raids

On Oct. 12, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to support “more effective enforcement of wage protections, workplace safety, labor rights, and other employment laws and standards.”

A memorandum accompanying this announcement establishes an end to mass worksite arrests of undocumented immigrants while focusing enforcement on “unscrupulous” employers who exploit unauthorized workers. Mayorkas requested agencies draft policies within 60 days that will implement this shift in enforcement priorities and deliver more severe penalties for exploitive employers. Mayorkas also will take steps to protect unauthorized workers who witness or are victims of labor abuse, including granting them temporary legal status.

These changes likely will create backlash from some Republicans in Congress who argue these policies will further drive the surge at the southern border.


Colin Powell’s rules to live by

The nation lost a giant. Colin Powell, the first Black secretary of state and former chairman of the joint chiefs passed away at age 84 this week. Following are Powell’s rules to live by, which we can all benefit from:

  1. It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
  2. Get mad, then get over it.
  3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
  4. It can be done.
  5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
  6. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
  7. You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours.
  8. Check small things.
  9. Share credit.
  10. Remain calm. Be kind.
  11. Have a vision. Be demanding.
  12. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
  13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
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