NRCA endorses new legislation to enhance registered apprenticeship programs
On April 30, Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Rep. Nathanial Moran (R-Texas) introduced the Workforce Apprenticeship Growth and Education Support Act in both chambers of Congress. The bill would create a refundable payroll tax credit for employers that hire and train workers through registered apprenticeship programs certified by the Department of Labor. The credit is designed to offset a portion of apprentice wages and defined program-related training expenses. NRCA endorsed the measure because its goal is to reduce upfront costs that often prevent roofing contractors and other employers from establishing registered apprenticeship programs.
NRCA’s top advocacy priority remains addressing member workforce needs. As such, the organization will work to expand support for this legislation in the Senate and House during the remainder of the 119th Congress.
Partial shutdown of Department of Homeland Security continues
Congress continues to struggle with providing permanent funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which has been operating in partial shutdown mode since mid-February, the longest partial lapse in funding for any federal agency in U.S. history. The impasse stems largely from the failure of Republicans and Democrats to reach agreement regarding reforms to immigration enforcement activities as Democrats refuse to vote for any appropriations bill to fund DHS without some type of reform, such as requiring all Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to wear body cameras. Most functions of the department continue operating with funding provided by the 2025 Republican-led reconciliation law and a patchwork of presidential Executive Orders, but these funding sources are not sustainable. The Senate has approved a bipartisan bill to fund all DHS functions except immigration enforcement, but the House has failed to act on this legislation to date.
Progress toward resolving the DHS funding impasse was made April 29, when House Republicans approved S. Con. Res. 33 on a straight party-line vote of 215-211-1. This resolution, which was approved by the Senate during the week of April 20, sets up the process by which Congress can pass a budget reconciliation bill that contains up to $75 billion in funding for DHS’s immigration enforcement activities during the next three years. Reconciliation bills can be approved with only a simple majority vote in the Senate rather than the 60-vote threshold needed for most legislation, in this case allowing Republicans to potentially pass the measure without the support of any Democrats. Republicans are now expected to move forward with crafting the specific funding parameters of the reconciliation bill to fund immigration enforcement with a target date of completion by June 1.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have been told verbally to stop entering homes or businesses without a judicial warrant, which is consistent with a pledge made by new Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin during his Senate confirmation hearing in March. The change in policy marks a shift away from the agency’s more aggressive enforcement tactics that began in May 2025 of using administrative warrants—which do not have to be approved by a judge based on probable cause—to enter homes and businesses. It is unclear whether DHS will make a formal announcement about this significant policy change regarding its immigration enforcement activities.
DOL issues proposed rule on joint employer standard
The Department of Labor issued a proposed rule regarding the determination of joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Migrant and Seasonal Worker Protection Act. The proposed rule “seeks to address the dearth of departmental regulatory guidance by proposing a single nationwide standard” and would “ensure employees and employers have a clear, consistent understanding of when multiple employers are jointly responsible for protecting the wages and other rights of an employee.” It also provides for separate analyses to assess horizontal and vertical joint employment scenarios given the inherent differences between those types of business arrangements. In addition, it would provide that a potential joint employer’s “actual exercise of control” is more relevant than “reserved control” for the determination of vertical joint employer status.
Public comments on the proposed rule are due to the agency on or before June 22. NRCA will be reviewing the proposed rule and submitting comments based on member feedback. View more information.
Implementation of Executive Order regarding DEI programs for federal contractors
On April 17, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council issued a memorandum providing guidance to agencies regarding implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order 14398, Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors, issued March 26. The order requires government agencies to include in all federal contracts, subcontracts and “contract-like instruments” a new clause prohibiting “racially discriminatory DEI activities to the extent permitted by law.” The clause states it applies “in connection with the performance of work under a federal contract.” The Executive Order also identifies sanctions for noncompliance and will require contractors to provide agencies access to records that will allow the agency to evaluate compliance and to report “known or reasonably knowable” violations by subcontractors. The new clause took effect April 25. Employers performing federal contracts or subcontracts should promptly check to make sure they are in compliance with the new requirement.
