Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passes Congress
On Nov. 5, the House of Representatives passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684), bipartisan legislation that will update the U.S.’ aging physical infrastructure. This legislation was approved by the Senate in August and is expected to be signed into law Nov. 15 by President Biden. NRCA has been advocating for this legislation because it provides much-needed funding for the U.S.’ aging buildings, including airports and schools, and programs to increase energy efficiency and resiliency. The inclusion of building-related provisions in this legislation was a cornerstone of Roofing Day in D.C. 2021 advocacy issues, and its passage was made possible in part through the efforts of NRCA members.
The bill also includes numerous provisions that will help ease some of the roofing industry’s supply chain challenges—including a pilot program for 18- to 20-year-olds to receive their commercial driver’s license and funding for ports and intermodal transportation. It passed with bipartisan support in the House and the Senate.
Save the date: Reception and live auction benefiting ROOFPAC at the WWII Museum
NRCA and National Women in Roofing will host a reception and live auction Jan. 31 during the 2022 International Roofing Expo® and NRCA’s 135th Annual Convention benefiting ROOFPAC at the American Sector Restaurant located in the National WWII Museum just blocks from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. ROOFPAC is the only political action committee dedicated to supporting the roofing industry's interests in Washington, D.C.
A strong ROOFPAC is the key to your voice being heard on Capitol Hill. As NRCA engages with lawmakers and federal agency officials regarding legislation and regulations that affect your business, ROOFPAC amplifies your message. ROOFPAC's role is to help protect you and your business from legislation and regulations that could harm your bottom line.
Join us for an evening you won’t forget!
Deep dive: OSHA COVID-19 vaccination and testing Emergency Temporary Standard
On Nov. 4, the Department of Labor released the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Emergency Temporary Standard for vaccines and/or testing aimed at employers with 100 or more employees, and it was published in the Federal Register Nov. 5. This comes after President Biden directed the agency Sept. 9 to issue the ETS as part of a broader program to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. NRCA has many concerns with the ETS; however, the exemption it contains for employees who perform work “exclusively outdoors” will substantially mitigate effects on the roofing industry. NRCA recently spearheaded an effort with the Construction Industry Safety Coalition to send a letter to OSHA noting the low-risk nature of construction industry work warranted exclusion or maximum flexibility from the requirements of the ETS, and NRCA appreciates the agency’s recognition of this fact.
View a copy of the ETS and additional information, including a summary, fact sheets and FAQs, on OSHA’s website.
NRCA will hold a webinar providing highlights of the OSHA ETS Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. CST. If you have any questions, contact Duane Musser, NRCA’s vice president of government relations, at dmusser@nrca.net or Tom Shanahan, NRCA’s vice president of enterprise risk management and executive education, at tshanahan@nrca.net. NRCA will continue to update its website resources as developments occur.
