Congressional leaders find agreement with President Biden to avoid government shutdown
Congress returned this week with just days until portions of the federal government run out of money March 1. Congressional leadership from the House and Senate met with President Biden Feb 27 to discuss funding the government past March and an additional foreign aid package that has recently stalled in Congress. Leaders reached agreement to extend current government funding deadlines from March 1 and March 8 to March 8 and March 22 with votes scheduled on six funding bills next week. The remaining six bills that expire March 22 include some of the most controversial items within the jurisdictions of the Defense, Homeland Security, and Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations subcommittees.
Roofing Day in D.C. early bird registration ends March 1
Join us April 16-17 in Washington, D.C., for the largest advocacy event dedicated solely to the roofing industry. Our program is becoming more concrete, and we need more participants to reach our goals!
Review our key advocacy issues for 2024—solutions to workforce shortages and pro-growth tax reform. To view our draft itinerary, book your hotel and register, visit www.nrca.net/roofingday.
House considers the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act
On Feb 29, the House is scheduled to consider the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act (H.R. 6585), legislation to allow students enrolled in short-term workforce training programs to be eligible for Pell Grants. Federal Pell Grants provide financial assistance to students of limited means, and eligibility currently is limited to individuals pursuing four-year degrees at colleges and universities. Expanding the eligibility for Pell Grants to qualifying training programs at community colleges and trade schools will help boost the number of students taking advantage of such programs, enabling more individuals to gain the skills needed to work in roofing and other trades. H.R. 6585 also helps level the playing field between federal support for workforce training and four-year degree programs. NRCA supports this bipartisan legislation, including as a past Roofing Day in D.C. advocacy priority, and recently sent a letter urging lawmakers to vote in favor of the bill.
NLRB joint employer rule delayed
On Feb. 22, a federal judge in Texas delayed the effective date of the National Labor Relations Board’s final rule, which modifies the Standard for Determining Joint-Employer Status under federal law, until March 11. The rule had been scheduled to take effect Feb. 26, and the delay comes as part of a legal challenge brought by a coalition of business groups. Under the final rule, two or more businesses may be considered joint employers of a group of employees if each entity has an employment relationship with the employees and if the entities share or co-determine one or more of the employees’ essential terms and conditions of employment. The delay will give the court more time to consider the merits of the legal challenge to the rule.
