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Press Releases

NECA Government Affairs 2022 Year in Review

Jan 9, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC- The NECA Government Affairs team had a very productive year in 2022. NECA was active in various major pieces of legislation that moved through Congress, as well as regulations that had major impacts on our industry. We conducted the NECA Legislative Conference, the first major fly-in event since the pandemic and had record numbers of Members of Congress attend the event. In addition, we are pleased to report that NECAPAC had another record-setting year.

Engagement

NECA Government Affairs had an impactful year engaging with the White House, federal agencies, and Members of Congress. NECA CEO David Long was invited to the White House twice this year for the signing of the CHIPs and Science Act and the White House Pipeline Challenge. Vice President Marco Giamberardino attended President Biden’s signing of requiring a Project Labor Agreement on federal construction projects over $35 million.

NECA Government Affairs had over 150 meetings with Members of Congress and staff and over 100 meetings with federal agency officials.

NECA Government Affairs has also been assisting David Long on the Department of Labor’s Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships.

 

2022 Legislative Wins

There was a lot of legislative activity in 2022 and NECA Government Affairs was able to secure major wins for NECA contractors throughout the country.

  • Chips & Science Act
    • NECA was able to secure prevailing wage requirements on $52 billion of funding for semi-conductor plant construction.
    • NECA was also able to secure additional funding for workforce innovation training to recruit more people to the industry.
  • Inflation Reduction Act
    • NECA was able to secure apprenticeship utilization and prevailing wage requirements on over $369 billion of energy tax credits that are the first of its kind in tax law history.
    • NECA Government Affairs was able to significantly mitigate any substantial tax increases on NECA Contractors.
  • FY23 NDAA
    • NECA was able to secure:

      ■         Funding for new energy projects including hydroelectric, geothermal, nuclear, hydrogen, and natural gas on military bases.

      ■          Funding for EV charging stations on military installations.

      ■         Advancing funding for microgrid technologies, 5G wireless technology, and additional data centers.

      ■          Procurement and change order fixing to ease the cost on contractors.

  • FY 22 and FY23 Appropriations Funding
    • NECA was able to secure the following:

■         Defeat Rep. Good (R-VA) amendment to strike Davis-Bacon requirements by a 264-165 vote. 

■         Additional funding to provide technical assistance to states for transmission planning to help create jobs, increase grid resilience, and expand access to affordable and abundant wind, solar, and other clean energy.

■         $307 million (compared to $251 million in FY 2022) would be allocated to the Wage and Hour Division.

■          $983 million for improved energy and water efficiency upgrades.

■         $50 million for Apprenticeship Building America grant funding for Registered Apprenticeship hubs. Registered apprenticeship hubs help employers design, develop, and deliver programs and support the establishment, scaling, and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs.


Regulatory

NECA Government Affairs is closely working with the federal agencies as they implement their regulatory agenda and start to disburse funds through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Department of Labor

  • IRAP Repeal
    • DOL repealed Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs
    • NECA submitted regulatory comments advocating for the repeal of IRAPs
  • DOL and DOJ MOU to coordinate enforcement of federal labor laws and combat misclassification
    • NECA was able have the DOJ and DOL strengthen the partnership between the two agencies to protect workers from employer collusion, ensure compliance with federal labor laws, and promote competitive labor markets and worker mobility.
  • Updating Davis-Bacon and Related Acts - In Review
    • Major updates to the Davis-Bacon and prevailing wage regulations in over 40 years.
    • NECA submitted regulatory comments to the agency. NECA routinely had discussions with the agency on changes to updating wage rates, survey region, modular work, and classification updates.
  • Department of Labor Independent Contractor Rule - Pending
    • The Department rescinded the 2021 rule that would allow for greater misclassification of workers.
    • NECA has continually discussed with the agency to revise the regulation to mitigate the misclassification of employees as independent contractors.

Department of Transportation

  • National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program - In Review
    • NECA submitted standalone and joint regulatory comments with the IBEW. Together we were able to secure EVITP and using registered apprenticeship programs on the building of the first ever EV charging network across the country.

Executive Orders

  • President Biden Executive Action to Spur Domestic Clean Energy Manufacturing
    • NECA worked with the Biden administration regarding three key decisions regarding the clean energy industry. These three actions will:

      ■         Invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) to help boost domestic clean energy manufacturing with solar panels, heat pumps, battery storage components, and power grid supplies.

      ■          Two-year suspension of tariffs on offshore solar components.

      ■         Give more tools to the federal procurement process to spur domestic manufacturing.

  • Project Labor Agreements - In Review
    • This Executive Order requires a PLA on all federal construction projects over $35 million.
    • NECA submitted comments through Construction Employers of America and joint comments with the IBEW advocating for PLAs.

 Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation

  • PBGC publishes final rule implementing Special Financial Assistance Program
    • NECA worked with NCCMP and other key stakeholders to submit regulatory comments to the PBGC. The comments focused on amending the final rule to ensure the PBGC and insolvent/troubled plans would remain solvent after 2051.

NECAPAC Record-Breakers

We had a record breaking 2022 with most ever raised for NECAPAC. Here are some highlights:

  • We finished 2022 with $923,511 raised, over $52,000 more than 2021.
  • The Political Leadership Council has grown to 119 members, including 25 new members, an increase from the 112 PLCs we had last year.
  • 58 NECA Chapters met their NECAPAC annual goals and are PLC Chapters for 2022.
  • We have participation from 101 NECA Chapters in NECAPAC, 4 more than last year.

Special thanks to all of the Political Leadership Council members who joined or renewed their membership in 2022. You can view PLC members here.

NECAPAC Disbursements

NECAPAC made a huge impact in the 2021-2022 election cycle spending $1,720,000, an increase of $112,500 compared to last cycle. We played in 190 races and maintain a 91% win record for the cycle.

 

Operational Fund Record Breakers

The Operational Fund also broke records this year, raising $432,205 in 2022, an increase of $52,497 from 2021.

Special thanks to our Advocate Companies and Chapters for their outstanding support this year! Learn more about NECA’s Advocate Program.

 2022 Advocate Program Members:

Eastern Illinois Chapter

Maryland Chapter

Motor Shop Electrical Construction

North Kansas City Electric

Oregon-Columbia Chapter

Penn-Del-Jersey Chapter

Puget Sound Chapter

Western Line Constructors Chapter

Western Pennsylvania Chapter

NECAPAC Capitol Competition 

Thank you all for participating in the 2022 NECAPAC Capitol Competition! Congratulations to the 2022 winners:

 

Dirksen Group: North Florida Chapter

Russell Group: Alaska Chapter

Longworth Group: Atlantic Coast Chapter

Rayburn Group: San Diego County Chapter


Chairman's Challenge

The Chairman’s Challenge tracks NECA chapter involvement in advocacy efforts throughout the year. This election cycle, NECA members held over 55 meetings with Members of Congress and sent 385 letters to their legislators on NECA priority issues. Thank you all for your participation in this program and for expanding NECA’s grassroots efforts across the country.

Congratulations to the Penn-Del-Jersey Chapter for winning the 2022 Chairman’s Challenge!