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This document outlines the core functions and legislative agenda of the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD), focusing on critical areas such as Davis-Bacon and Project Labor Agreements, immigration reform, workforce development, and infrastructure investments. It emphasizes the importance of unified political efforts and strategic giving to bolster advocacy for building trades unions and their contributions to legislation and federal agency collaborations. The document highlights current initiatives, political strategies, and support networks aimed at advancing construction trades issues.
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sSS Building and Construction Trades Department Government Affairs Sonia Ramirez, Director sramirez@bctd.org
Government Affairs - Core Functions • Legislative • Identify priority issues • Seek opportunities to advance issues • Coordinate efforts to defend against attacks on issues • Legislation, amendments, hearings, staff briefings, direct lobbying • Federal Agency Advocacy • Resolve pending regulatory issues • Strengthen relationships with key agencies • Political Giving • Unified political efforts • Priority giving • Strategic giving • Communications (separate presentation) • Research (separate presentation)
BCTD Legislative Agenda – 113th Congress • Davis Bacon and Project Labor Agreements • Immigration Reform • Workforce Development/ Registered Apprenticeship • Infrastructure Investment/ Jobs • Multi-Employer Pension Plans
Davis Bacon and Project Labor Agreements • Preservation of bi-partisan margins of support • Stand alone legislative initiatives • Appropriations battles • Hearings, Press, and Research • Implementation of PLA Executive Order • Federal Agency Advocacy • Davis Bacon Regulatory Changes • Survey Crews
Immigration Reform • Key pieces of reform: • Enforcement – Interior and Border • Path to Citizenship • No expansion of existing or creation new temporary guest worker programs in construction • Current State of Play: • Senate Bill • House Strategy • Conference
Workforce development Registered Apprenticeship • Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Reauthorization • Workforce Investment Boards • Registered Apprenticeship Representation • Promoting Apprenticeship for Credentials and Employment Act (PACE) • Strengthen Apprenticeship Advisory Committee • Provide Grants • Enhance Labor Standards Enforcement
Infrastructure investment jobs • Legislation • Water Resources Development Authorization (WRDA) • Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Authority (WIFIA) • Waterways Are Vital for the Economy, Energy, Efficiency, and Environment Act (WAVE 4) • Federal Permitting Improvement Act • Infrastructure Bank Proposals • TSCA – Toxic Substance Control Act – Reauthorization Chemical Safety Improvement Act • Project Support • Keystone • Jordan Cove – LNG Export Terminal • Cove Point – LNG Export Terminal
Agency Advocacy– Resolve Pending Issues • Department of Labor • Davis Bacon Reform • Worker Misclassification • H2B / Guest worker Regulations • EPA • Coal Ash • Hydraulic Fracturing • Green House Gas (GHG) • Department of State • Keystone Pipeline • Visa Programs • Bridge to Windsor • Department of Transportation • Federal Highway Administration - Local hire provisions • Health and Human Services • Affordable Care Act Implementation
Political Efforts Unified Political Efforts • Priority Giving • Enhance policy outcomes through coordinated investments • Key committees • Bi-partisan Leadership Strategic Giving • Give to candidates that advance critical issues • Provide necessary votes • Introduce legislation (bills and amendments) • Leaders (give floor speeches, have key relationships) • Engage in Republican primaries (protect members)
Political Efforts Total political advocacy expenditures per cycle = over $50M Building Trades Unions Contributions – 2012 cycle • #1 overall direct PAC contributions • #1 direct PAC contributions to Democrats • #5 direct PAC contributions to Republicans
Value-Added Resources • BCTD Research Capacity • State, Provincial and Local Building Trades Councils • Community Alliances • Emerald Cities, Youth Build, The Corp Network, PolicyLink, Partnership for Working Families, Hard Hatted Women, Wider Opportunity for Women, Urban League, NAACP, and NCLR • Helmets to Hardhats • NCCMP • Standing BCTD Committees --Apprenticeship, Organizing, Davis Bacon, Women in the Trades and Health and Safety • Industry Coalitions • Labor Management Committees • Legal Advocacy • Leveraging Financing Options • HIT/BIT, ULLICO, CGI, Nuveen Investments • Contractor Associations SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association), NECA (National Electrical Contractor Association), MCA (Mechanical Contractor Association) • The Center for Construction Research and Training (CCRT)