News

NECA Government Affairs 2019 Year-End Review

Jan 3, 2020

Top Three Wins

Full Repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) 40 percent “Cadillac Tax.”
Allowing 529 savings accounts to be used for costs associated with Department of Labor (DOL) registered apprenticeship programs.
A seven-year reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program.

Extension of the National Flood Insurance Program.
Full repeal of health insurance tax (HIT) and medical device excise tax.
Estate tax exclusion increased from $5 million to $11.4 million per taxpayer, adjusted for inflation.
A seven-year authorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank.
$1 billion for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants.
An extension of 179D energy efficiency tax deduction retrospectively from 2017 and prospectively through 2020.
Reauthorization of the Department of Defense Mentor-Protege Program.
A revision of the Small Business Act to lower the payment period for prime contractors that are a small business concern from 30 days to 15 days. This revision also includes language urging prime contractors to continue these accelerated payments to subcontractors to the maximum extent possible.

Introduction of the Payment for Performance Act H.R. 2344 – Requiring 50% partial payment for change orders completed on federal work. NECA also secured a Senate companion to this legislation, something not previously done in the past Congress.
The United States Mexico Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) passed the House of Representatives.

Organized and executed a visit by Vice President Mike Pence, Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, Governor Ron DeSantis, and Assistant Secretary of Labor John Pallasch to NECA member company Miller Electric to mark the first anniversary of NECA signing of the Pledge to the American Worker.

Effective January 6, 2020, the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) calculation of annual revenues used to prescribe size standards for small businesses will change from a three-year averaging period to a five-year averaging period. This is a result of NECA Contractor Brian Morales of Pro-Cal Lighting in San Diego testifying before the House Small Business Committee on this issue in March 2019.
Worked with the SBA to utilize our contractors for beta testing on the ASCENT program, an initiative focused on further educating women contractors as they grow in their respective fields.

Secured the signing of the Inside and Outside standards.
Successfully ensured the inclusion of a construction industry exemption for the Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAPs). NECA acted as a conduit for many labor groups and contracting organizations to the executive branch.
Worked with the Building Trades, IBEW, and subcontractor groups to send tens of thousands of comments to the Department of Labor on keeping the construction industry exemption from IRAPs.
Held multiple meetings with the Secretary of Labor and his under-Secretaries, advancing NECA’s platforms.

NECA contractor Brian Morales testified before the House Small Business Committee on a hearing titled “Cleared for Take-off? Implementation of the Small Business Runway Extension Act.”
NECA contractor Tom DePace testified before the House Small Business Committee on a hearing titled “Helping Small Businesses Compete: Challenges and Opportunities in the Federal Procurement Marketplace.”
Over 800 letters sent to Members of Congress from NECA contractors through the Legislative Action Center on priority issues such as repeal of the Cadillac Tax, and support for Composite Plans, infrastructure investment, and 529 savings plans for apprenticeships.
Over 50 in-district meetings with Members of Congress to tour our contractor’s job sites, headquarters, or training centers.

As of December 31, 2019, $844,799 has been raised for NECAPAC through personal contributions from 873 NECA contractors.
103 PLC Renewals ($5,000 personal donors).
9 New PLC members ($5,000 personal donors).
As of December 31, 2019, 53 NECA Chapters have met their NECAPAC goal for 2019.