Registration is now open for two impactful labor relations events taking place consecutively in Las Vegas this October—designed to strengthen negotiation skills, improve labor-management collaboration, and advance our industry together. The back-to-back MCAA Collective Bargaining Conference and UA/MCAA Labor Relations Conference offer a unique opportunity to develop aligned strategies, share perspectives, and build stronger labor-management relationships across the mechanical industry.
For more information, please visit BSTV.
Join contractors, local association executives, and labor leaders for MCAA’s Collective Bargaining Conference. This year’s program offers expert insights and practical strategies on:
Whether you’re preparing for upcoming negotiations or looking to improve labor-management collaboration, this conference offers essential tools and fresh perspectives to help you succeed.
Immediately following the Collective Bargaining Conference, the UA/MCAA Labor Relations Conference continues the conversation with a focus on partnership. Jointly hosted by the United Association (UA) and MCAA, this event brings together local labor/management teams to strengthen collaboration across key areas, including:
Together, these back-to-back events offer a unique opportunity to develop aligned strategies, share perspectives, and build stronger labor-management relationships across the mechanical industry.
During registration, you will have the option of registering for one or both events.
Each year, thousands of workers suffer from heat illness while working in high temperatures, direct sun, and humid conditions; dozens even die. MCAA’s Heat Stress resources, alongside those from our partners at OSHA, CNA, and MILWAUKEE TOOL, provide strategies and tips for protecting those workers. These are just a few of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
Explore the the full range of resources for mechanical construction, service and plumbing contractors, using the blue Find A Resource bar on our website or browse our collection of 700+ safety and health resources.
Contact MCAA’s Executive Director for Safety, Health, and Risk Management.
November 9 – 12, | Scottsdale, AZ
Registration opens June 18th
Mark your calendars for the MSCA Education Conference, November 9–12 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. This year’s theme, Transform, challenges us to rethink how we inspire teams within our organizations while still being leaders and advancing the industry. In addition to our in-depth education sessions and conference-favorite peer-to-peer discussion roundtables, we have a great line up of keynote speakers:
This is more than a conference—it’s a transformative experience designed to grow leaders and strengthen our industry.
Registration opens June 18th.
The Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of MCAA’s website connects our contractor members with training opportunities available from the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Participating companies highlight and link to new webinars and training opportunities across their product lines, services, solutions or web pages. Here are just a few of the recent additions:
HGG Profiling Equipment, Inc.
Check out ProCAM Lite: HGG’s Free DSTV Viewer
Mueller Industries, Inc.
Streamline® PRS Copper Press Fittings | Installation Instructions
Watch this video to learn about the installation process of the Streamline® PRS Copper Press Fittings.
Be sure to visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area for all the latest offerings.
MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:
NEFCO
NEFCO offers a large inventory of our S.H.A.R.P. products and tools, with next day jobsite delivery available from our locations. We provide localized, contractor-centric services including extensive industry expertise, turnkey engineering services, specialty fabrication and assembly of construction materials all under one roof. We’re NEFCO and we never stop working for you.
Morris Group International
The Murdock 3,000-gallon PFAS water filter is certified to NSF Standard 42, NSF Standards 51+37, and NSF Standard 401. It removes PFAS/PFOS from the water. Murdock is a Morris Group International Brand.
Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!
Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!
Save yourself time and let MCAA connect you to the latest Manufacturer/Supplier member’s training opportunities. Visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of the Resource Center to get started.
The complexity of longer, more elaborate pipe systems, paired with the urgency of getting a business back up and running, makes having the right tools for commercial plumbing repairs essential. You need tools with the appropriate power and size capacity to complete jobs, enough cable to ensure they can reach the end of longer pipes, and extra cable flexibility to allow navigation of longer pipe runs. Along with finding tools with these general features, here are five basic tools you should invest in for commercial work.
Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.
June 16 – June 18, | Kansas City, MO
Need help booking your hotel room? Reach out to .
The ripple effect of change begins with one small action—and over the last five years, the Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI) Conference has grown from a powerful idea into a transformative force in our industry. As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of this groundbreaking event, we reflect on the tremendous growth we’ve seen—not only in attendance and engagement, but in the strength, confidence, and leadership of the women who continue to shape our industry’s future.
From its beginnings as a platform for connection and empowerment, the WiMI Conference has evolved into a must-attend event that delivers high-impact educational content, meaningful peer-to-peer networking, and actionable insights for women at every stage of their careers.
At the heart of this year’s conference is the theme: “The Ripple Effect: Women Impacting Our Industry.” The agenda builds on five years of momentum with sessions designed to fuel personal and professional growth. Attendees will learn from dynamic speakers who share their real-life experiences—overcoming fear, embracing cultural identity, and rising through the ranks in a historically male-dominated field.
Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned executive, the educational offerings are tailored to help you sharpen your skills, boost your confidence, and expand your leadership potential. From building a strong personal brand to navigating challenging conversations, each session is crafted to leave you better equipped and more empowered to make your mark.
Over the years, WiMI has fostered a vibrant and inclusive community where women support and uplift one another. At the conference, that spirit continues with curated networking opportunities and intimate roundtable discussions. These interactive sessions provide the space for candid conversations, sharing of strategies, and collective problem-solving—all in a welcoming and collaborative environment.
These connections go beyond the conference and often become lifelong professional relationships and sources of support, encouragement, and inspiration.
As we mark this milestone anniversary, we celebrate the remarkable ripple effect created by every woman who has participated in a WiMI event, shared her story, mentored a colleague, or stepped into a leadership role. Together, we’re not just changing perceptions—we’re changing the industry.
Join us at the WiMI Conference to celebrate how far we’ve come and to be part of the movement that’s shaping what comes next. This is your moment to empower yourself, connect with others, and continue the ripple effect of positive change.
Register now—and be a part of the next wave of growth, leadership, and transformation.
Worker health is at the heart of all that safety professionals do. MCAA’s Worker Health Resources include six worker safety videos and their accompanying materials and eleven worker safety resources that let you refresh training on subjects such as Asbestos Awareness, Bloodborne Pathogens, Hexavalent Chromium, Silica, Radio Frequency Radiation Safety, Respiratory Protection. Guides, bulletins, and programs on each topic support these efforts. These are just a few of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
Explore the the full range of resources for mechanical construction, service and plumbing contractors, using the blue Find A Resource bar on our website or browse our collection of 700+ safety and health resources.
Contact MCAA’s Executive Director for Safety, Health, and Risk Management.
The MSCA25 Education Conference, Transform, is set to take place November 9–12 in stunning Scottsdale, AZ, and registration is opening soon. As we prepare to welcome you to the mechanical service industry’s premier educational event – featuring inspiring speakers, relevant education sessions, and insightful peer-to-peer discussions and networking – we want to take a moment to celebrate the heart of our industry: our Everyday Heroes.
Since , the MSCA Everyday Hero Award, proudly sponsored by ServiceTrade, has honored the unsung heroes among us—those exceptional individuals from MSCA member companies who go above and beyond to help others. Not for praise, but simply because it’s the right thing to do. Their compassion, generosity, and quiet leadership remind us what this industry is truly about.
We need your help to discover this year’s Everday Hero. The award winner will be presented with an award and a donation from ServiceTrade to their charity of choice at the MSCA25 Education Conference. We know there are many Everyday Heroes out there, so in addition to our awardee at the conference, we will be celebrating all our nominations leading up to the conference! Whether you have nominated someone before, or have someone new in mind, nominate them today!
You can read more about our past MSCA Everyday Hero Award Winners, and nominate your Everyday Hero, here.
MSCA isn’t just about elevating business—it’s about celebrating the people who take service to the next level and make our industry, and our world, better.
Who will this year’s hero be? Nominate your hero today.
And stay tuned… MSCA25 registration opens June 18, .
MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:
Delta Cooling Towers, Inc.
TM Series – capacity from 250 to cooling tons – Engineered plastic tower provides longer life – Low Maintenance – CTI Certified.
FARO Technologies, Inc.
[WEBINAR] Discover the power of FARO® 3D Reality Capture and watch the on-demand webinar to explore how it assists builders and engineers in planning, designing, and managing MEP systems effectively.
Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!
Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!
Save yourself time and let MCAA connect you to the latest Manufacturer/Supplier member’s training opportunities. Visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of the Resource Center to get started.
W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc. saw a 200-percent increase in shop productivity and a 12-fold increase in weld productivity by implementing Novarc Technologies Inc.’s collaborative Spool Welding Robot (SWR). They are also realizing a 100-percent pass rate on radiography tests (RTs). The SWR has reduced W.W. Gay’s dependence on highly skilled welders, of whom there is a global shortage.
Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.
As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting your livelihood and setting the stage for a bright future, MCAA has secured the services of Longbow Public Policy Group to advise our MCAA Government Affairs Committee (GAC). GAC Chair, Jim Gaffney will be passing along information relative to our industry on a regular basis.
On Monday, May 26, MCAA Lobbying Firm, Longbow Public Policy Group provided the following information:
Last Friday, President Trump signed a series of executive orders to overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and speed the deployment of new nuclear power reactors in the U.S. Trump’s orders call for a “total and complete reform” of the NRC and under the new rules, the NRC would be forced to decide on nuclear reactor licenses within 18 months. Trump’s orders also create a regulatory framework for the Departments of Energy and Defense to build nuclear reactors on federal land, which according to a White House official will allow for “safe and reliable nuclear energy to power and operate critical defense facilities and artificial intelligence data centers.” The President’s order also aims to jump start the mining of uranium in the U.S. and expand domestic uranium enrichment capacity. The President also directed faster testing of new reactor designs at the Department of Energy’s national laboratories.
Last Thursday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee advanced several nominees in a 12-11 party-line vote, sending them to the full Senate for confirmation. These nominees include Henry Mack, III to lead the Labor Department’s Employment and Training Administration, which oversees federal workforce training and registered apprenticeship programs, and Kevin O’Farrell, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education. O’Farrell will be responsible for working with Mack to rejuvenate career and technical education at the nation’s schools.
Unfortunately, the Senate HELP Committee advanced these nominees without a confirmation hearing. MCAA had no opportunity to submit questions to lawmakers regarding nominees’ views on federal workforce training and registered apprenticeship issues. This is particularly concerning because, if confirmed, Mack and O’Farrell will have key roles in implementing President Trump’s recent executive order (EO) on Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future and lawmakers did not have an opportunity to press them on how they would do this. We have been conducting outreach to Senate lawmakers to see if this instance of advancing nominees without confirmation hearings will become a trend, which would severely limit our ability to press nominees on various issues of interest to MCAA before they are confirmed by the Senate.
Last Monday, Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Lee (R-UT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the International Nuclear Energy Act, which aims to support the U.S. domestic nuclear industry’s leadership and offset China and Russia’s growing influence over nuclear energy development.
The legislation would: (1) support the establishment of an office to coordinate civil nuclear exports strategy, establish financing relationships, promote regulatory harmonization, enhance safeguards and security, promote standardization of licensing framework, and create a nuclear exports working group; (2) create programs to facilitate international nuclear energy cooperation to develop financing relationships, training, education, market analysis, safety, security, safeguards and nuclear governance required for a civil nuclear program; (3) require a Cabinet-level biennial summit focused on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards to enhance cooperative relationships between private industry and government; and (4) establish a Strategic Infrastructure Working Group to determine how to best structure a fund to finance projects critical to national security.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Industrial Valve Supplier - BSTV. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
As we continue to lobby to preserve President Biden’s MCAA-supported executive order on project labor agreements, we learned that late last Friday, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) a preliminary injunction based on their claim that the Trump Administration is violating federal law by failing to abide at all Departments and federal agencies by President Biden’s MCAA-supported executive order creating a presumption that project labor agreements (PLAs) will be used on large-scale federal construction projects expected to cost $35 million or more. The lawsuit comes after the Department of Defense (DOD) and the General Services Administration (GSA) earlier this year responded to a January Federal Court of Claims decision upholding several bid protests over PLA language in DOD and GSA contracts by issuing a class deviation for all DOD and GSA contracts to forgo PLA language. While this District Court ruling is a win, we are concerned that this case could now prompt the Trump Administration to move to fully rescind President Biden’s PLA executive order (EO) and have been redoubling our lobbying efforts to preserve this EO.
Last Thursday, the MCAA policy team monitored and engaged on Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-Health and Human Services regarding President Trump’s fiscal year (FY) budget request. Apprenticeship programs, as well as the Trump Administration’s proposed reformulation of federal worker training programs known as “Make America Skilled Again” (MASA) block grants, were a focus of the hearing. Chavez-DeRemer asserted that workforce training and apprenticeships were a key part of the Trump Administration’s “worker centric” approach and explained that the President’s budget reflects a desire to give states and localities flexibility to spend workforce dollars as they see fit. She also argued that the Trump Administration’s proposal to consolidate workforce training under MASA will give states and localities more control, while eliminating “burdensome” federal program requirements for training programs that get federal funds. Chavez-DeRemer also explained that in order to achieve the Trump Administration’s goal of 1 million new apprentices, she will be presenting the President with a plan to reorient federal workforce programs to prepare the U.S. economy for reshoring and re-industrialization. In response to questions submitted by the MCAA and its allies regarding this reorientation, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer declined to provide any details or even commit to a public input process before releasing the plan.
During the hearing, Subcommittee Ranking Member Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) criticized the Trump Administration for “going backwards on apprenticeship,” and pointed to the cancellation of several apprenticeship contracts and to the President’s budget request, which she said “really decimates” funding for state and local workforce programs.
Last Friday, the Labor Department announced five political appointees for the Wage and Hour Division at the U.S. Department of Labor, which enforces federal wage and hour laws , including the classification of workers as employees or independent contractors. The appointees include Donald M. Harrison, III as acting Wage and Hour Administrator and Caroline Brown, W. Glenn Viers, Garret Buttrey, and Dana M. Deason as Senior Policy Advisors. These appointees will be tasked with, among other things, deciding the fate of the MCAA-supported, Biden-era independent contractor rule making it harder to misclassify construction workers as independent contractors and the Biden-era, MCAA-supported final rule on Davis-Bacon Modernization.
As we continue conversations on Capitol Hill regarding the MCAA’s pension reform priorities, we were informed early last week that Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) were introducing the Auto Reenroll Act that would amend safe harbors in ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code to permit retirement plan sponsors to reenroll non-participants at least once every three years, unless the individual affirmatively opts out again. The legislation is endorsed by AARP, the American Benefits Council, the American Retirement Association, Edward Jones, Empower, LPL Financial, Nationwide Retirement Solutions, and Transamerica. We are working with the National Coordinating Committee on Multiemployer Plans to confirm what, if any, impacts this legislation will have on multiemployer defined benefit plans.
MCAA successfully lobbied to rescind two Biden-era decarbonization final rules. Last week, the Federal Register published the formal notices rescinding these rules from the Code of Federal Regulations. One is the Department of Energy’s final rule on Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-Fired Instantaneous Water Heaters. The other is the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule on the Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems.
Every contractor and worker relies on tools to do their job. However, injuries resulting from improper use or selecting the wrong tool for the job happen far too often. MCAA’s Power & Hand Tool Safety Resources highlight the tools most likely to be involved in injury incidents and teach proper use of the tools to help prevent injuries. They’re just a few of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
MCAA thanks our partner in safety, MILWAUKEE TOOL, for sharing these related resources.
Explore the the full range of resources for mechanical construction, service and plumbing contractors using the blue Find A Resource bar on our website or browse our collection of 700+ safety and health resources.
Contact MCAA’s Executive Director for Safety, Health, and Risk Management.
The Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of MCAA’s website connects our contractor members with training opportunities available from the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Participating companies highlight and link to new webinars and training opportunities across their product lines, services, solutions or web pages. Here are just a few of the recent additions:
CNA
CNA’s Driver Selection Guide – Mitigate risk and enhance safety with a well-designed process.
SLOAN
The RP 115 is the smallest, lightest press tool on the market. Single-handed operation and 210° swivel help you press in tight spots. With this tool, getting into pressing is easier than ever.
Be sure to visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area for all the latest offerings.
For 15 years, MSCA has proudly partnered with Convoy of Hope, coming together as a community to make a difference. Since our collaboration began, MSCA members have contributed over $750,000 in food, goods, labor, and financial support to this incredible organization. Join us at MSCA25 as we celebrate our partnership by giving back, and read on to learn how you can donate to our efforts.
This year, we’re proud to partner with Maggie’s Place Community Center, a nonprofit in the Scottsdale, AZ area providing vital support to pregnant women and new mothers in need. From transitional housing and parenting classes to job training and therapeutic resources, Maggie’s Place offers holistic care and a path forward.
And at the MSCA Education Conference, get ready to roll up your sleeves and join us for a high-energy, feel-good Packing Party on Tuesday, November 11. This event is a chance to give back, connect with peers, and be part of something bigger.
Whether it’s your first year attending the event or your fifteenth, your support helps us bring hope and help where it’s needed most. Let’s make this year the most impactful yet!
Find out more about this year’s partner charity and the Packing Party, and learn how to donate to help fund these activities here:
The MSCA Education Conference, Transform, is November 9-12 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Registration opens June 18!
MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show connects our contractor members with the members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Participating companies highlight and link to new products, product lines, services, solutions or web pages of particular interest. Here are just a few of the recent additions:
Kojo Technologies, Inc.
Kojo is the industry’s leading material procurement solution, providing contractors with a digital solution to streamline materials management from pre-con to payment.
Morris Group International
Elmdor Valve Boxes offer access to valves and controls concealed in walls. The SVB series is fully enclosed, while the VB series is recessed. Elmdor is a Morris Group International brand.
Find many more smart solutions in MCAA’s Virtual Trade Show!
Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website to learn how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with cost-saving and productivity-enhancing applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
This section of our website also includes tips and ideas to help your company save money and enhance your productivity. Don’t miss it!
Save yourself time and let MCAA connect you to the latest Manufacturer/Supplier member’s training opportunities. Visit the Manufacturer/Supplier Training area of the Resource Center to get started.
By swapping out Excel spreadsheets for MSUITE software across multiple fabrication shops, McCarl’s Industrial and Mechanical Contractors now has real-time visibility into their workflow, not the two-to-three-day lag time. Adopting a fully digital platform has optimized workflows and increased operational efficiency.
Visit the Smart Solutions Case Studies area of our website! You’ll see how other mechanical contractors found their win-win with productivity-enhancing and cost-saving applications from members of MCAA’s Manufacturer/Supplier Council.
Plus, you’ll find tips and ideas on other ways you and your company can save money and enhance your productivity.
As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting your livelihood and setting the stage for a bright future, MCAA has secured the services of Longbow Public Policy Group to advise our MCAA Government Affairs Committee (GAC). GAC Chair, Jim Gaffney will be passing along information relative to our industry on a regular basis.
On Monday, May 19, MCAA Lobbying Firm, Longbow Public Policy Group provided the following information:
On May 14th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to curtail Biden-era National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water systems. These PFAS chemicals are often called “forever chemicals” because they take a very long time to degrade and pose risks to human health as they leak into water and soil. In April , the Biden EPA set Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for five individual PFAS chemicals—PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA—and mixtures of these chemicals and required all public water systems to complete monitoring for these chemicals and start public reporting on the amount of each of these PFAS chemicals in their drinking water by .
Under the new Trump EPA proposal, EPA is rescinding and reconsidering its prior determination to regulate the PFAS chemicals PENA, PFHxS, HFP-DA, and mixtures thereof regulated under the Biden-era rule. EPA is also delaying from until the requirement the Biden EPA imposed on drinking water systems to address the two PFAS chemicals—PFOA and PFOS. The EPA is taking this action despite a recent analysis of EPA data showing that PFAS chemicals have recently been detected in hundreds of water systems serving over 84 million Americans.
Relatedly, on April 28th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will establish limits on the amount of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that can be discharged into the water. The limitations will apply to companies that make these substances, as well as metal finishers. In , the Biden Administration similarly announced plans to propose limits on the release of PFAS but never proposed any standards. The EPA detailed actions the agency plans to take to address PFAS chemicals, including: (1) implementing a PFAS testing strategy under Section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act; (2) providing annual updates to the PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance; (3) using Safe Drinking Water Act authority to investigate and address immediate endangerment; and (4) addressing the most significant compliance challenges and requests from Congress and drinking water systems related to national primary drinking water regulations for certain PFAS.
On May 2nd, President Trump released his fiscal year (FY) budget request calling for a 13% increase in defense and border security spending and a 22.6% reduction in nondefense spending. For U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the budget proposes a 26% cut in funding for a total reduction of $3.63 billion from current funding levels. The FY DOL Budget includes a cut of $1.6 billion as part of a “Make America Skilled Again (MASA) Grant Consolidation” proposal that would require states and localities to allocate more funding for workforce development programs. It would require states to spend at least 10% of their federal workforce training funds on apprenticeships. Other highlights of the FY 26 Budget of interest to MCAA include:
Presidential budgets are a declaration of priorities and a starting point for the congressional appropriations process. Appropriations bills can be filibustered in the Senate, so some degree of bipartisan consensus is required. MCAA will be actively engaged throughout the budget and appropriations process to protect our members’ interests.
On May 7th, President Trump nominated Brittany Panuccio, who is currently serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Florida, to fill a vacancy on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that was created by Trump’s firing of two Democratic EEOC commissioners earlier this year. Panuccio is a former special counselor at the Department of Education and was also an associate at the law firm Jones Day. Earlier in her career, she clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. If confirmed by the Senate, Panuccio would give the EEOC a quorum to hold votes and take other actions under a Republican majority at the Commission. Her term would expire in July .
On April 28th, President Trump signed an Executive Order entitled, “Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens,” seeking to “protect” citizens “from dangerous illegal aliens” by withholding federal funds from jurisdiction the Administration classifies as “sanctuary cities” because they do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The Executive Order directs the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) to publish a list of jurisdictions obstructing federal immigration enforcement and notify each of these jurisdictions that it is non-compliant. If a jurisdiction fails to come into compliance, DOJ and DHS are directed to pursue “all necessary legal remedies and enforcement measures”—including terminating federal funding these jurisdictions receive.
As we continued our outreach to the Trump Administration on the MCAA’s nuclear priorities, we learned that the Trump Administration will require that going forward the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) must send new rules regarding reactor safety to the White House, where they will be reviewed and possibly edited in a “radical departure” for the NRC, which historically has been among the most independent agencies in the government. Additionally, President Trump is reportedly planning to sign various Executive Orders related to the NRC and the nuclear industry, including orders reducing the size of the NRC’s staff and shortening the time to review reactor designs, along with orders calling for the construction of small modular nuclear reactors at military bases and for the development of advanced nuclear fuels.
Last Thursday, the MCAA policy team monitored Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s appearance before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor and Health and Human Services regarding her department’s fiscal year budget request. During the hearing, Chavez-DeRemer sought to highlight her commitment to visiting workers in all 50 states and serving as a voice for workers. Chavez-DeRemer also noted President Trump’s “mandate from workers,” including union workers, to overhaul U.S. job training programs to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse and highlighted recent visits to UBC and IBEW training centers. Throughout the hearing, Chavez-DeRemer refused to answer questions that MCAA and its allies had encouraged members to ask about DOL’s regulations on independent contractor status and prevailing wage due to pending litigation on these issues. She also relied on the existence of pending litigation to refuse to respond to questions about several other issues ranging from overtime rules to DOL’s staffing levels. DeRemer also avoided providing any details about planned changes to federal workforce training and registered apprenticeship to implement President Trump’s Executive Order —Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future, which calls for the creation of 1 million new apprentices and directs an overhaul and streamlining of federal job training programs.
House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) took Chavez-DeRemer to task during the hearing for celebrating with Elon Musk the cancellation of Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grants from the Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau that train women for occupations in the trades. DeLauro’s attack made Chavez-DeRemer uncomfortable and compelled the Secretary to defend her commitment to women in the workforce, saying, “I am a woman and I am in the workforce.” Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) also appeared particularly frustrated by Chavez-DeRemer’s refusal to discuss how many Labor Department employees accepted early buyouts and other staffing issues at the department. Hoyer noted that he had a call with Chavez-DeRemer a week ahead of the hearing and told her he would be asking questions regarding staffing and said she gave him no indication that pending litigation would preclude her answering questions.
On April 30th, Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Todd Young (R-IN), along with Reps. Trent Kelly (R-MS) and John Garamendi (D-CA) reintroduced the “Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act,” to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries. The legislation would, among other things: (1) establish a national goal of expanding domestically built, U.S. flagged and American crewed international fleet by 250 ships in 10 years; (2) expand the U.S. shipyard industrial base for both military and commercial vessels by enacting a 25% investment tax credit for shipyard investments, transforming the Title XI Federal Ship Financing Program into a revolving fund, and establishing a Shipbuilding Financial Incentives program to support innovative approaches to domestic ship building and ship repair; and (3) accelerate U.S. leadership in next-generation ship design, manufacturing processes, and ship energy systems by establishing the U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation, and supporting regional hubs for maritime innovation.
On April 30th, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced its portion of the reconciliation bill by a vote of 36-30. The legislation provides $12.5 billion to upgrade the air traffic control system and provides $21.2 billion for new Coast Guard facilities, ships, and programs. The bill also includes $10 billion in savings and additional revenues through measures such as new annual fees state transportation departments will be required to collect on vehicles to fund the Highway Trust Fund, including: (1) a $250/year fee for electric vehicles; and (2) a $100/year fee for hybrid vehicles. Savings are also generated by recissions of unspent monies provided under the Inflation Reduction Act, including: (1) funds for the General Services Administration to reduce carbon emissions from federal buildings; (2) funds for procurement of low-embodied carbon construction materials for federal construction projects; and (3) funds to develop emerging and sustainable technologies and sustainability and environmental programs for buildings. Finally, the bill rescinds unobligated funds for low-carbon transportation grants and claws back funding for low-emission aviation technology and transportation equity grants.
On April 29th, the House Armed Services Committee advanced its portion of the reconciliation bill by a vote of 35-21. The legislation increases defense spending by $150 billion and includes $33.7 billion to improve infrastructure and expand capacity at private shipyards. Also on April 29th, the House Education and Workforce Committee advanced its portion of the reconciliation bill by a vote of 21-14. The legislation expands Pell Grants for short-term training programs and enacts changes to student loan repayment plans, including limits on how much some individuals can borrow for their education.
As we continued to discuss the importance of maintaining the MCAA-supported, Biden-era executive order creating a presumption for using project labor agreements on large-scale federal construction projects with the Trump Administration, on May 5th we were surprised and dismayed to see the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy submit comments on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) April 3, request for information (RFI) on “Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs” urging DOT to limit the use of PLAs on certain types of DOT-funded projects. The comment letter is based on feedback the Office of Advocacy received at its April 14th small business roundtable soliciting thoughts on DOT’s RFI. Specifically, recommendation 33 on page 24 of the comment letter states, “FTA and FHWA should limit the use of PLAs and allow them on a federal-aid project when the state or local transportation agency has meaningfully collaborated with leading industry groups and labor on its terms.” We visited with the Office of Advocacy and challenged some of the assumptions underlying their comments on PLAs with data establishing the value and cost-effectiveness of PLAs, including the recent research MCAA highlighted from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne and the groundbreaking research on PLA’s MCAA sponsored through Independent Project Analysis in . We will now be monitoring the Office of Advocacy more closely on these issues and hope they will refrain from uncritically espousing assertions from opponents of PLAs that are not supported by sound research and data.
On Thursday, at a House Appropriations Labor-HHS Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Labor’s FY budget request, U.S. Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer cited pending litigation as her reason for refusing to answer questions MCAA lobbied committee members to ask about the future of the MCAA-supported prevailing wage regulations issued during the Biden Administration that improved and expanded the application of Davis-Bacon federal prevailing wage. Her refusal to discuss the DOL’s plans for the rulemaking and the pending litigation were alarming because the stay the court granted DOL in this litigation expires on Monday, May 18th. This means that the Department must file an update with the court regarding its view of the issues in the litigation and plans for the underlying rulemaking and the Secretary likely already had a good idea of the position the Department will be taking in any such court filing. We will be watching next week to see what DOL says, but the Secretary’s lack of candor did not inspire confidence.
On April 29th, the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced it is seeking input from employers, stakeholders, and others in southeast Texas on prevailing wage and fringe benefit rates for workers on federally funded and assisted projects to help establish Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates in the southeast Texas building and heavy construction sectors. The WHD is distributing an online survey here that asks for information on wages paid for relevant construction projects from May 5, to August 5, . The areas covered include Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Milam, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Waller, Washington, and Wharton counties. The survey is due by August 29, .
As the MCAA policy team continues to discuss apprenticeship and worker training with the Trump Administration and members of Congress, including efforts to reauthorize the National Apprenticeship Act and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, there were some notable developments on this issue set since our last government affairs update.
MCAA had been working closely with several congressional offices on questions to ask President Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) that oversees federal workforce training and registered apprenticeship programs. All of this work and cooperation now seems of little value because last Thursday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee revealed it is forgoing a hearing and proceeding directly to a markup this Thursday, May 22, on the nomination of Henry Mack III to lead the ETA. If confirmed, Mack will play a key role in implementing President Trump’s Executive Order —Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future discussed below. Forgoing a hearing and moving directly to a markup of this nominee precludes Senators from questioning him on his plans and visions for the job. Mack’s nomination is being packaged with five other nominees into a single markup that also includes Kevin O’Farrell, the nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the Department of Education. O’Farrell will be responsible for working with Mack to rejuvenate career technical education in the nation’s schools. The other nominees being considered at this markup are: (1) Wayne Palmer to serve as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health; (2) Nicholas Kent to serve as Undersecretary of Education at the Department of Education; (3) Marco Rajkovich Jr. to serve as Commissioner of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission; (4) Julie Hocker to serve as Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Office of Disability Employment Policy; and (5) Kirsten Baesler to serve as Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the Department of Education. It remains to be seen if Democrats will protest Senate Republicans’ decision to move Mack and these other nominees to a markup without a hearing.
On May 5th, the Labor Department issued Training and Employment Notice (TEN) 25-24 on “Leveraging Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Waivers to Increase Labor Force Participation and Worker Productivity” that details four previously granted waivers DOL authorized from WIOA requirements on federal workforce training funds that the Department believes will help grantees improve labor force participation rates and productivity. These waiver options include:
MCAA’s interest in the President’s nominee for ETA increased markedly on April 23rd when President Trump signed Executive Order (EO) on “Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future” that was a focus of the “fireside chat” with Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling at the CEA National Issues Conference on May 6th. For those who were not at that event, the EO focuses on apprenticeships and preparing workers for jobs in “the skilled trades and other occupations that do not require a college degree.” The fact sheet accompanying the EO frames the order as a rejection of the “college for all” workforce development model pursued by previous administrations. The EO highlights America’s “shortage of 447,000 construction workers and 94,000 durable goods workers.” To address this, it directs the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and Education to submit a report to the President in 90 days addressing several topics, including how to integrate systems and align resources across federal agencies to address critical workforce needs and in-demand skills of emerging industries and companies and strategies to identify alternative credentials and assessments to the four-year college degree that can be mapped to the specific needs of employers. The EO also requires these same Cabinet Secretaries to submit a report to the President within 120 days detailing a plan to recruit 1 million new active apprentices. In our discussion with the Deputy Secretary, he said that this is a real goal, adding that the Department will lean heavily on its ETA nominee to figure out how to realize it. He also reassured the audience that the order would not lead to a revival of the IRAP proposal MCAA and its allies fought to be excluded from during the first Trump term and later got rescinded by the Biden Administration. The Deputy Secretary welcomed MCAA’s input on any proposals arising from the implementation of the executive order.
As the MCAA policy team warned following the Labor Department’s request last month to pause litigation against the MCAA-supported, Biden-era independent contractor rule as it reconsidered the rulemaking, on May 1st, the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued a Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) ordering staff not to enforce this MCAA-supported Biden-era final rule. Instead, WHD told its investigators to rely on principles from a Fact Sheet and a reinstated WHD Opinion Letter FLSA-6 from President Trump’s first term that was signed by then-acting Wage and Hour Administrator Keith Sonderling—who is now the Deputy Secretary of Labor. This opinion letter defaults most workers providing services through virtual marketplace platforms (e.g., Fiverr, Handy, Porch, Thumbtack, and TaskRabbit) into being treated as independent contractors instead of employees. We have subsequently been informed that the Labor Department is working to reinstate the understanding of independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act as interpreted during President Trump’s first term.
The Labor Department’s freeze on enforcement of the independent contractor rule followed the April 23rd release of a detailed proposal (available here) from Senate HELP Committee Chair Cassidy (R-LA) Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) for Congress to overhaul employment classification laws to make it easier to classify more workers and non-employee gig workers/independent contractors. Chair Cassidy wants Congress take up legislation: (1) instituting a single employment status test under federal law replacing the disparate tests under federal tax and wage laws; (2) creating a safe harbor for companies providing benefits to independent contractors that insulates them from lawsuits claiming the workers are employee because they are getting benefits; (3) clarifying existing federal law to allow independent contractors to join association health plans (AHPs) and expand independent coverage of health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRAs) for independent contractors; and (4) providing independent contractors access to participate in a defined contribution retirement plan.
Since the release of this plan, MCAA has been discussing it with legislators. We are making known the anticompetitive impact such legislation would have on the ability of MCAA members and other high-road, law-abiding contractors who treat their workers as employees and provide not only training, health insurance, and retirement benefits, but also pay unemployment, workers compensation, and other costs of having employees that are not borne by companies using independent contractors. While Chair Cassidy seems unmoved by our concerns, we do feel some members in both parties understand the larger issues if our society reverts to one in which everyone is an independent contractor. MCAA will continue to educate members on these concerns. We expect Chair Cassidy to press his vision for changes to federal wage and hour law when his committee considers the nomination of the President’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage & Hour Division, which is expected in the coming weeks.
The MCAA policy team had worked with congressional offices since Congress returned from its Easter recess to ensure members would ask detailed questions about the plans of the President’s PBGC nominee, Janet Dhillon, regarding changes to the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program for underfunded plans and a pending rulemaking on withdrawal. Some of these questions were used in individual meetings Senators had with the nominee. But Senators never got to ask her questions at a public hearing because last Thursday the Senate HELP Committee decided to forgo a hearing on her nomination and moved directly to a markup at which Dhillon was not even required to appear. During the brief 30-minute executive session on Dhillon’s nomination, Republicans who were opposed to the creation of the SFA program and refer to it as a “union bailout” made clear their hopes that Dhillon will undertake major reforms to the regulations implementing the $90 billion Biden-era program that aids the most underfunded multiemployer programs. Democrats, led by Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), criticized Dhillon for her prior work on bankruptcies at U.S. Airways, Dollar Tree, and other companies that resulted in pension plans being taken over by the PBGC’s insurance program. They also pointedly stated that in meetings with Senators, Dhillon had refused to say whether she will comply with the Special Financial Assistance law “or whether she will attempt to undermine it.” Her nomination now goes to the full Senate, where it is expected she will be confirmed in the coming weeks. MCAA will work with the National Coordinating Committee on Multiemployer Plans to educate the incoming PBGC Director about our interest in the pending PBGC withdrawal liability rule and the integrity of the SFA Program.
Last Monday, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) reintroduced the Helping Younger Americans Save for Retirement Act, which would lower the age for participating in ERISA plans by allowing individuals to enroll as young as 18 if they do not plan to attend college and immediately enter the workforce. The bill would also eliminate mandatory audits and other provisions of ERISA that impose extra costs on costly plans covering workers under 21. Chairman Cassidy’s staff said the bill is intended to facilitate the transition of young people who do not go to college into jobs in the trades and other occupations that do not require a college degree—consistent with the President’s effort to move federal job training programs away from the “college for all” approach.
As the policy team continues advocating MCAA’s decarbonization priorities with the Trump Administration and on Capitol Hill, there were several significant developments over the last three weeks that we wanted to make you aware of:
The Department of Energy (DOE) issued several proposed and final rules aimed at facilitating President Trump’s deregulatory efforts and rolling back President Biden’s decarbonization agenda. These rules address energy efficiency and testing standards for an array of industrial products and consumer appliances. In particular, DOE issued a proposed rule that not only withdraws the prior finding that compressors are covered equipment under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (ECPA) (which triggers requirements to develop energy conservation and testing standards) but also articulated the policy for the Trump Energy Department’s determinations of whether products are covered under the ECPA. Under this policy, the Energy Department plans to classify industrial equipment as covered equipment under ECPA only if establishing energy conservation and testing standards will significantly increase the energy resources of the nation, without compromising the performance of industrial products. This is sure to result in far fewer findings that equipment and appliances are covered by ECPA’s energy conservation and testing standards.
DOE also published revisions to energy conservation standards for consumer furnace fans and commercial warm air furnaces and an array of consumer appliances.
On May 7th, MCAA attended Energy Secretary Wright’s testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water on his Department’s FY budget. Secretary Wright defended the Administration’s budget cuts in the face of stiff resistance that MCAA had encouraged from Republicans focused on cuts to DOE nuclear programs. The majority—more than $15 billion—of the requested cuts would fall on clean energy programs enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act, but the Trump Administration has also proposed decreases for other nuclear activities. The GOP pushback was led by Subcommittee Chair Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) who made clear his concern about “the proposed reduction to the nuclear budget.” Secretary Wright responded that the reduction in nuclear funding “in no way indicates…a reduction in desire for nuclear energy,” adding that the production of nuclear energy is especially important for U.S. dominance in AI and other energy-intensive technologies. Notably, Secretary Wright also said he was committed to working with lawmakers to support nuclear and other energy sources, including geothermal, hydropower, and high-assay low-enriched uranium.
On May 6th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unexpectedly announced plans to end the Energy Star program certifying the energy efficiency of home appliances as part of its broader reorganization. The cancellation came despite a letter last month from three dozen trade groups and appliance companies, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Bosch, Carrier, and the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute urging the EPA not to end Energy Star because it was a good “non-regulatory” collaboration between the private sector and the federal government.
Additionally, on May 5th, the EPA announced a reorganization creating an Office of State Air Partnerships within the Office of Air and Radiation focused on working with state, local and Tribal air permitting agencies to improve processing of State Implementation Plans and resolving air permitting concerns. With the Office of Water, EPA is elevating issues of cybersecurity, emergency response, and water reuse and conservation. The agency is also shifting its scientific expertise and research efforts to program officers to focus on statutory obligations and mission essential functions and is creating an Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES) in the Office of the Administrator. As part of this reorganization, EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention will add 130 scientific, bioinformatic, and information technology experts to review new chemicals and pesticides. The EPA says that this reorganization will save taxpayers more than $300 million annually by the end of fiscal year .
Working at heights continues to be one of the most dangerous parts of construction and service. Each year falls are the leading cause of workplace fatalities and fall protection is the most cited OSHA violation. MCAA’s Working at Heights resources, which include training on Aerial Lift Safety, Fall Prevention and Protection, Ladder Safety, and Scaffold Safety, help keep workers safe, while model programs on fall protection and fall rescue simplify OSHA compliance. These are just a few of MCAA’s educational resources that are free to MCAA members as a benefit of membership.
Explore the the full range of resources for mechanical service contractors, including resources that are also of interest to mechanical construction and plumbing contractors, using the blue Find A Resource bar on our website or browse our collection of 700+ safety and health resources.
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