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sSS. Building and Construction Trades Department Government Affairs. Sonia Ramirez, Director sramirez@bctd.org. Government Affairs - Core Functions. Legislative Identify priority issues Seek opportunities to advance issues Coordinate efforts to defend against attacks on issues

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  1. sSS Building and Construction Trades Department Government Affairs Sonia Ramirez, Director sramirez@bctd.org

  2. Government Affairs - Core Functions • Legislative • Identify priority issues • Seek opportunities to advance issues • Coordinate efforts to defend against attacks on issues • Legislation, amendments, hearings, staff briefings, direct lobbying • Federal Agency Advocacy • Resolve pending regulatory issues • Strengthen relationships with key agencies • Political Giving • Unified political efforts • Priority giving • Strategic giving • Communications (separate presentation) • Research (separate presentation)

  3. BCTD Legislative Agenda – 113th Congress • Davis Bacon and Project Labor Agreements • Immigration Reform • Workforce Development/ Registered Apprenticeship • Infrastructure Investment/ Jobs • Multi-Employer Pension Plans

  4. Davis Bacon and Project Labor Agreements • Preservation of bi-partisan margins of support • Stand alone legislative initiatives • Appropriations battles • Hearings, Press, and Research • Implementation of PLA Executive Order • Federal Agency Advocacy • Davis Bacon Regulatory Changes • Survey Crews

  5. Immigration Reform • Key pieces of reform: • Enforcement – Interior and Border • Path to Citizenship • No expansion of existing or creation new temporary guest worker programs in construction • Current State of Play: • Senate Bill • House Strategy • Conference

  6. Workforce development Registered Apprenticeship • Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Reauthorization • Workforce Investment Boards • Registered Apprenticeship Representation • Promoting Apprenticeship for Credentials and Employment Act (PACE) • Strengthen Apprenticeship Advisory Committee • Provide Grants • Enhance Labor Standards Enforcement

  7. Infrastructure investment jobs • Legislation • Water Resources Development Authorization (WRDA) • Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Authority (WIFIA) • Waterways Are Vital for the Economy, Energy, Efficiency, and Environment Act (WAVE 4) • Federal Permitting Improvement Act • Infrastructure Bank Proposals • TSCA – Toxic Substance Control Act – Reauthorization Chemical Safety Improvement Act • Project Support • Keystone • Jordan Cove – LNG Export Terminal • Cove Point – LNG Export Terminal

  8. Agency Advocacy– Resolve Pending Issues • Department of Labor • Davis Bacon Reform • Worker Misclassification • H2B / Guest worker Regulations • EPA • Coal Ash • Hydraulic Fracturing • Green House Gas (GHG) • Department of State • Keystone Pipeline • Visa Programs • Bridge to Windsor • Department of Transportation • Federal Highway Administration - Local hire provisions • Health and Human Services • Affordable Care Act Implementation

  9. Political Efforts Unified Political Efforts • Priority Giving • Enhance policy outcomes through coordinated investments • Key committees • Bi-partisan Leadership Strategic Giving • Give to candidates that advance critical issues • Provide necessary votes • Introduce legislation (bills and amendments) • Leaders (give floor speeches, have key relationships) • Engage in Republican primaries (protect members)

  10. Political Efforts Total political advocacy expenditures per cycle = over $50M Building Trades Unions Contributions – 2012 cycle • #1 overall direct PAC contributions • #1 direct PAC contributions to Democrats • #5 direct PAC contributions to Republicans

  11. Value-Added Resources • BCTD Research Capacity • State, Provincial and Local Building Trades Councils • Community Alliances • Emerald Cities, Youth Build, The Corp Network, PolicyLink, Partnership for Working Families, Hard Hatted Women, Wider Opportunity for Women, Urban League, NAACP, and NCLR • Helmets to Hardhats • NCCMP • Standing BCTD Committees --Apprenticeship, Organizing, Davis Bacon, Women in the Trades and Health and Safety • Industry Coalitions • Labor Management Committees • Legal Advocacy • Leveraging Financing Options • HIT/BIT, ULLICO, CGI, Nuveen Investments • Contractor Associations SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association), NECA (National Electrical Contractor Association), MCA (Mechanical Contractor Association) • The Center for Construction Research and Training (CCRT)

  12. Questions

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