Deadlines near for Roofing Day in D.C. 2022—sign up today!
Washington, D.C., continues to welcome travelers by lifting vaccine and mask mandates, increasing museum hours and moving toward further openings we hope will be announced soon. As NRCA focuses on solutions to the industry’s supply chain and workforce challenges, we need you! Please help NRCA tell your story and build on relationships with key policymakers. Book your hotel under a discounted group rate by March 21, and please register for Roofing Day in D.C. by March 23.
NRCA also has released an updated itinerary for the event, which includes an excellent slate of speakers.
President Zelensky of Ukraine addresses Congress in virtual meeting
On March 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed Congress regarding the ongoing conflict in his country as Russia attempts to take capital city Kyiv. Zelensky began with a standing ovation from U.S. lawmakers as he outlined the facts on the ground and reiterated his requests for MiG-29 jet fighters and a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Zelensky said sanctions imposed on Russia are not sufficient and called for a trade embargo, ban on the use of Russian ports and disconnection of all Russian banks from SWIFT. He said the world did not react strongly enough to Russian seizure of two nuclear power plants in Ukraine. Zelensky told lawmakers: “Remember Pearl Harbor … Remember Sept. 11 … Our country experiences the same every day.”
Congress funds the federal government through September
On March 15, President Biden signed the omnibus bill that funds the government through September. This legislation was more than 2,700-pages and passed Congress just a few days after being released.
The legislative package totals $1.5 trillion in spending with substantial increases to nondefense spending alongside increases for defense-related programs. The 12 annual bills provide $730 billion in nondefense funding—a $46 billion (6.7%) increase compared with fiscal year 2021—and $782 billion in defense funding—a $42 billion (5.6%) increase compared with fiscal year 2021.
NRCA continues to analyze provisions of importance to the roofing industry but is pleased to report Career and Technical Education Perkins State Grants received a $45 million increase compared with fiscal year 2021 funding. This bill also includes language to provide the Department of Homeland Security with authority to issue additional visas and other improvements to the H-2B guest worker program many NRCA members use to supplement their workforce during peak season.
The bill provides a record $3.2 billion—an increase of $338 million compared with fiscal year 2021—for energy efficiency and renewable energy. This funding provides for clean, affordable, secure energy and ensures U.S. leadership in the transition to a global clean energy economy. This legislation also provides $120 million for climate change and resiliency projects, which is $106 million more than in fiscal year 2021.
New Davis-Bacon Act regulations for federally funded construction projects
On March 11, the Department of Labor announced new regulations designed to update and improve implementation of the Davis-Bacon Act for federally funded construction projects. The Davis-Bacon Act was enacted in 1931 and requires the payment of local prevailing wages and fringe benefits for employees—as determined by DOL’s Wage and Hour Division—on most federal contracts for the construction, alteration, or repair of public buildings or public works. The proposal is the most comprehensive update of Davis-Bacon Act regulations since 1983. According to DOL, proposed changes to the regulations include:
- Modifying the definition of “prevailing wage” to ensure they reflect actual wages paid in the local region where the project is located
- Periodically updating prevailing wage rates to address out-of-date wage determinations
- Providing broader authority to adopt state or local wage determinations when certain criteria is met
- Issuing supplemental rates for key job classifications when no survey data exists
- Updating the regulatory language to better reflect modern construction practices
- Strengthening worker protections and enforcement, including debarment and anti-retaliation measures
The nearly 500-page Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be published in the Federal Register soon, and DOL will accept comments on the proposal for 60 days after publication.
