ABC advocates both nationally and locally on behalf of what we call “the merit shop” in the construction industry through government representation, legal action, workforce development and grassroots mobilization to promote free enterprise and fair competition. Additionally, ABC influences elections through its Free Enterprise Alliance (FEA), which educates stakeholders on pro-business policies, and the ABC Political Action Committee (ABC PAC), which supports candidates who align with our free enterprise and fair competition principles. Through these combined efforts, ABC National and the Rocky Mountain Chapter work to create a favorable regulatory environment, strengthen the industry’s workforce and ensure that policymakers prioritize the needs of construction businesses and their employees. Huge Success in the 2024 Elections ABC’s political and issue advocacy efforts were a huge success in the 2023-24 election cycle. It is clear that our efforts had a difference-making impact in electing a merit-shop trifecta in Congress and the White House. ABC PAC works within the federal election process to directly support political campaigns for the presidency or Congress. The PAC is dedicated to advancing candidates that align with the merit shop philosophy, ensuring that elected officials understand and support the needs of ABC members and the broader construction industry. ABC PAC went ALL-IN this cycle, spending $2.4 million to support our interviewed and vetted candidates across the country. ABC PAC contributed to 12 merit-shop pick-ups and 30 new members running in the country’s most competitive races in a strategy that had an 85%-win percentage. Additionally, the FEA serves as ABC’s issue education and advocacy arm, informing members, their employees, elected officials and the public on key issues that impact the construction industry, like fair and open competition. Through strategic campaigns, advertisements and outreach efforts, the FEA helps inform voters and policymakers about the benefits of pro-merit shop policies. The FEA went ALL-IN this cycle, spending more than $5 million delivering our message by supporting the policy positions of pro-free market elected leaders at the federal and state levels while at the same time exposing the records of anti-merit shop lawmakers. This level of advocacy is unparalleled for a trade association like ABC. In every electoral district that ABC PAC, FEA, and the ABC chapter and members went ALL IN, we won them all — that’s a 100% success rate. National Public Policy Over the last 12 months, ABC has taken a series of significant actions to challenge government regulations, support small businesses and advocate for fair labor policies at the national level. In 2024, ABC emerged as a powerful advocate for businesses, particularly in the construction sector, by challenging regulatory overreach and championing policies that foster economic growth. One of its most significant victories came when it successfully opposed the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) overtime rule, arguing that automatic salary threshold increases would strain industries already facing financial pressures. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas ruled in favor of ABC, striking down the rule. Similarly, ABC played a critical role in blocking proposed changes to federal apprenticeship regulations. By submitting extensive comments and engaging industry stakeholders, ABC helped convince the Biden administration to withdraw the rule, ensuring that apprenticeship programs remain practical and accessible for the construction workforce. ABC also took a stand against labor policies that it believed would negatively impact businesses. It led to opposition to the renomination of Lauren McFerran to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), citing concerns over her previous rulings that favored unions at the expense of employers. Mobilizing its members, ABC successfully contributed to the Senate’s rejection of McFerran in a narrow 49-50 vote. Additionally, ABC has remained a vocal critic of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which contends threatened worker independence and business flexibility. By continuing to lobby against this bill, ABC has ABC’s Unparalleled Advancement of Merit-Shop Construction 52
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