Description

This webinar is for ABC members and chapter staff only. Webinar Description ABC continues to fight against President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 14063, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, which requires every prime contractor and subcontractor on a federal construction project of $35 million or more performed within the United States to sign a PLA as a condition of winning a taxpayer-funded contract. While ABC has had recent victories against the PLA mandates on federal contracts, the Biden EO is still in effect as well as other Biden policies pushing PLAs on federally assisted projects procured by private, state and local government stakeholders. This webinar will discuss ABC’s litigation against EO 14063, recent victories and advocacy initiatives, including: On March 28, 2024, ABC and its Florida First Coast chapter filed suit in a Jacksonville federal court to block Biden’s PLA final rule on construction contracts procured by federal agencies, asserting it is beyond the scope of executive authority and violates the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act, among others. The case is fully briefed and plaintiffs are awaiting a decision on the overall case and a ruling on the motion for preliminary injunction filed in April. On Jan. 19, 2025, a decision from the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled in favor of ABC and AGC federal contractor members that filed bid protests challenging 12 PLAs mandated by federal agencies via Biden’s controversial policy requiring anti-competitive, inflationary, union-favoring PLAs on federal construction projects of $35 million or more. While a win, this does not block Biden’s PLA rule entirely. The DOD announced on Feb. 11 it would eliminate PLA policy on military construction projects. The GSA announced on Feb. 12 it would PLAs on LPOE projects. The VA eliminated PLAs on projects but abruptly reinstates their PLA policy less than two weeks later. The Fair and Open Competition Act will be reintroduced in the 119th Congress. FOCA will protect federal and federally assisted construction contracts from government-mandated project labor agreements and will allow merit shop contractors to have a fair chance at competing to build and rebuild America. ABC issued an action alert that members can use to urge members of Congress to co-sponsor the bill. The ABC-led BuildAmericaLocal.com coalition is continuing its efforts against PLAs. Speaker Bio: Ben Brubeck is ABC’s vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs. In this role, he works with his team to shape policy on local, state and federal issues important to the construction industry, and represents ABC before lawmakers, the media, construction industry executives and stakeholders. His expertise across a portfolio of issues includes labor and employment, workforce development, infrastructure, federal contractor regulations, small businesses and public works procurement. Moderator Bio: Michael Altman is ABC’s manager of federal regulatory affairs. In this role, he manages regulatory actions, policies and guidance issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Transportation as well as several other federal agencies.