This Week in D.C.

Congress recently passed a one-week continuing resolution to fund the federal government until Dec. 23, at which time they hope to pass a large omnibus funding bill for the remainder of the fiscal year, which began Oct. 1. On Dec. 20, Congress released the full 4,000-plus-page bill to fully fund the government past the extension. This legislation includes $50 million more than fiscal year 2022 for each of the following programs of interest to the roofing industry: Perkins Career and Technical Education State Grants, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State Grants and Registered Apprenticeships. This bill also includes the authority for the administration to provide additional H-2B visas over the statutory cap, which is a long-standing NRCA priority. NRCA and allied associations also were successful in preventing a last-minute effort to add language to the bill that would have unfairly restricted access to the H-2B visa program for construction industry employers.  

NRCA recently cosigned a letter supporting H.R. 9092, the Family and Small Business Protection Act. This legislation would rescind the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022’s billions in funding for the IRS’ expanded enforcement efforts while retaining funding for the IRS to focus on improving taxpayer services and modernizing operations to serve taxpayers. NRCA is hopeful this legislation could be one of the first bills considered by the House in the 118th Congress. 

 

NRCA submitted comments urging the Department of Labor to withdraw its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to modify the rules governing the determination of independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This proposed rule would change the current standard, which focuses on employers’ level of control of work and independent contractors’ opportunities for profit or loss, to a new “totality-of-circumstances” analysis that contains six factors used to determine independent contractor status. NRCA’s comments expressed concerns the more expansive and complex criteria will inject great uncertainty and confusion into the determination process. This could make it more difficult and costly to correctly classify workers and consultants who are legitimate independent contractors and are critical to the efficient functioning of the roofing industry.  

Each year, roofing professionals meet with members of Congress on Capitol Hill to discuss the critical issues facing their companies and the roofing industry. And you know what? We’re making a big difference. So far, we have increased funding for career and technical education, advanced legislation that addresses workforce development needs and secured a strong buildings component in bipartisan infrastructure legislation.

But our work is not done yet. We are just getting started. Join us for Roofing Day in D.C. April 18-19, 2023, and help us make it the biggest and best roofing industry advocacy event ever! After you sign up, click on the link to invite a friend from your confirmation email and you could win a $500 Amazon gift card!

Registration is only $95 for company representatives and $35 for field workers, students and spouses. Please visit www.nrca.net/roofingday to view testimonials from last year’s event and learn more. Sign up today!