Special thanks to Orange County Chapter Executive Tom Geller, Puget Sound Chapter’s Rick Rothermel of Pacific Coast Electrical Contractors, Chicago and Cook County Chapter’s Eric Nixon of Maron Electric, and Northern California Chapter’s Greg Long of Long Electric for renewing their PLC memberships!

Congratulations to the Wisconsin Chapter for reaching its 2019 NECAPAC goal!

Personal Contributions = 773
Corporate Contributions = 961

NECAPAC Fund to 11-22-19 = $778,924
ADMIN Fund to 11-22-19 = $228,230

Total Contributions to Date = 1,734
Total Dollars to Date = $1,007,154 

Special thanks to West Virginia-Ohio Valley Chapter’s Duane Shurow of Progressive Electric for renewing his PLC membership!

Personal Contributions = 773
Corporate Contributions = 962

NECAPAC Fund to 11-29-19 = $783,984
ADMIN Fund to 11-29-19 = $228,230

Total Contributions to Date = 1,735
Total Dollars to Date = $1,012,214 

1. Multiemployer Pension Reform Update

Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), Chairmen of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee and the Senate Finance Committee, respectively, published a white paper on November 20 with their initial proposals for solving the crisis and challenges facing the multiemployer pension system. This document is the first proposal of weight coming from Republican Senate leaders but is not a legislative text, or a declared bill. The white paper is intended to begin a more in-depth discussion on potential fixes and should be understood as the starting point of negotiations.

NECA’s Look Ahead: NECA will submit comments and continue working with Members of Congress and meeting with congressional leaders and staff on this matter before final legislation is introduced to make sure the industry’s needs are met. While the white paper includes composite plan design and other beneficial aspects, there are revisions that should ultimately be made. To that end, NECA will focus its advocacy on the following topics:

• Maintaining Responsible Employer Premiums
• Limiting the Damages of Withdrawal Liability
• Passing Innovative Composite Plan Design

As this is the initial proposal in a multifaceted negotiation, we continue to urge restraint from our membership. Your government affairs team will tirelessly work on your behalf to represent your companies and our industry to insure we achieve a positive result.

More information can be found here

2. 2020 Legislative Conference Dates Announced

The NECA 2020 National Legislative Conference will be held April 27-30, 2020 in Washington, DC.

NECA’s Look Ahead: NECA looks forward to welcoming our contractors to the nation’s capital for another year of advocating for our industry.

3. Take Action on Nuclear Powers America Act

Tell Congress to support the bipartisan Nuclear Powers America Act (H.R. 2314/S. 1134). This legislation will help NECA contractors by extending the ITC to include nuclear work by creating a 30 percent tax credit for refueling costs and qualified nuclear power plant capital expenditures for each taxable year through 2023. Thereafter, the credit rate would be reduced until it reached 10 percent in 2026. Nuclear power accounts for 20% of the nation’s electrical supply, produces more than 60% of the emissions-free generation in America, supporting 475,000 jobs.

NECA’s Look Ahead: Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) introduced the NECA-supported bipartisan Nuclear Powers America Act (H.R.2314 / S.1134). NECA has long advocated for a diverse portfolio of energy sources especially, clean and renewable energy sources such as nuclear power.

Special thanks to Quad Cities Chapter’s Dan Palmer of Tri City Electric for renewing his PLC membership!

Congratulations to NECA’s Northern Illinois Chapter, Twin Ports-Arrowhead Chapter, Eastern Illinois Chapter, South Texas Chapter, and Kansas City Chapter for reaching their 2019 NECAPAC goals!

Personal Contributions = 795
Corporate Contributions = 994

NECAPAC Fund to 12-6-19 = $800,639
ADMIN Fund to 12-6-19 = $231,430

Total Contributions to Date = 1,789
Total Dollars to Date = $1,032,069 

Congratulations to NECA’s Kansas Chapter, Northeastern Line Chapter, and Southern Colorado Chapter for reaching their 2019 NECAPAC goals!

Personal Contributions = 812
Corporate Contributions = 1045

NECAPAC Fund to 12-13-19 = $813,269
ADMIN Fund to 12-13-19 = $236,615

Total Contributions to Date = 1857
Total Dollars to Date = $1,049,884

Congratulations to NECA’s North Central Ohio Chapter, Greater Cleveland Chapter, Central Ohio Chapter, Oregon-Pacific-Cascade Chapter, Northern Indiana Chapter, Minneapolis Chapter, Orange County Chapter, Chicago and Cook County Chapter, San Diego Chapter, Northern California Chapter, and San Francisco Chapter for reaching their 2019 NECAPAC goals!

Personal Contributions = 863
Corporate Contributions = 1052

NECAPAC Fund to 12-20-19 = $833,269
ADMIN Fund to 12-20-19 = $240,275

Total Contributions to Date = 1915
Total Dollars to Date = $1,073,544 

NECA’s government affairs team wishes you a very happy holiday season and we hope you are enjoying time with your family and friends.

Congratulations to Rick Osbakken for being our first PLC renewal of 2020! 

Personal Contributions = 5
Corporate Contributions = 3

NECAPAC Fund to 1-7-20 = $5,070
ADMIN Fund to 1-7-20 = $1,600

Total Contributions to Date = 8
Total Dollars to Date = $6,670

Congratulations to Ike Poe of New River Electrical Corp. for renewing his 2020 PLC membership!

Personal Contributions = 31
Corporate Contributions = 1

NECAPAC Fund to 1-17-20 = $18,380
ADMIN Fund to 1-17-20 = $1,000

Total Contributions to Date = 32
Total Dollars to Date = $19,380

On January 14, 2020, members of NECA’s Penn-Del-Jersey chapter had the opportunity to meet with Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) and the Secretary of Labor Scalia

Congratulations to Nicolaus Feldmann of Eldor Contracting Corp. for renewing his 2020 PLC membership!

Personal Contributions = 34
Corporate Contributions = 2 

NECAPAC Fund to 1-24-20 = $24,100
ADMIN Fund to 1-24-20 = $6,000

Total Contributions to Date = 36
Total Dollars to Date = $30,100

Congratulations to William Darnstadt of Lyons Electric Company for renewing his 2020 PLC membership! 

Personal Contributions = 52
Corporate Contributions = 28

NECAPAC Fund to 1-31-20 = $31,020
ADMIN Fund to 1-31-20 = $11,000

Total Contributions to Date = 80
Total Dollars to Date = $42,020 

Personal Contributions = 52
Corporate Contributions = 175

NECAPAC Fund to 2-7-20 = $31,080
ADMIN Fund to 2-7-20 = $13,600

Total Contributions to Date = 227
Total Dollars to Date = $44,680

Congratulations to Blair Mahan of Benson Electric Company and District 7 Vice President Greg Rick of Rick Electric for renewing their 2020 PLC memberships!

Personal Contributions = 55
Corporate Contributions = 177

NECAPAC Fund to 2-14-20 = $42,140
ADMIN Fund to 2-14-20 = $13,950 

Total Contributions to Date = 232
Total Dollars to Date = $56,090 

Special thanks to Gloria Ashford of Ashford Electric & Construction, LeeAnn Cochran of Cochran Inc., Drew Mackey of Evergreen Power Systems, Marvin Nelson of Nelson Electric, Greg Stewart of The Superior Group, and Rick Rothermel of Pacific Coast Electrical Contractors for renewing their 2020 PLC memberships!

Congratulations to NECA’s Puget Sound Chapter for being the first chapter to reach its goal for 2020!

Personal Contributions = 64
Corporate Contributions = 232 

NECAPAC Fund to 2-21-20 = $72,446
ADMIN Fund to 2-21-20 = $24,450

Total Contributions to Date = 296
Total Dollars to Date = $96,896 

Congratulations to David Washebek of Lemberg Electric for joining the Political Leadership Council! 

Personal Contributions = 77
Corporate Contributions = 234

NECAPAC Fund to 2-28-20 = $88,676
ADMIN Fund to 2-28-20 = $25,700

Total Contributions to Date = 311
Total Dollars to Date = $114,376

Congratulations to Puget Sound Chapter Executive Barry Sherman for renewing his Political Leadership Council membership. 

Special thanks to Thomas DePace of Advance Sound Company for renewing his NextGen PLC Membership!

Personal Contributions = 86
Corporate Contributions = 267

NECAPAC Fund to 3-6-20 = $101,011
ADMIN Fund to 3-6-20 = $26,700

Total Contributions to Date = 353
Total Dollars to Date = $127,711 

Congratulations to NECA’s Southern Tier Chapter for reaching their goal for 2020!

Personal Contributions = 91
Corporate Contributions = 328

NECAPAC Fund to 3-13-20 = $103,991
ADMIN Fund to 3-13-20 = $41,500

Total Contributions to Date = 419
Total Dollars to Date = $145,491 

1. NECA Helps Secure Construction Industry Exemption in Final IRAP Rule

On March 10, 2020, the Department of Labor released the final rule of the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAP) regulation. The final rule contains a permanent construction industry exemption, thereby protecting our industry from participation in IRAPs. NECA released a statement thanking the Administration for recognizing that the construction industry has longstanding expertise in the creation and execution of apprenticeships.

NECA’s Look Ahead: NECA strongly advocated for the construction industry’s exemption, with thousands of NECA contractors sending comments to the Department of Labor. By securing this exemption, the long-established, gold standard apprenticeship model that NECA Contractors utilize will remain intact and not be subjected to these parallel programs which will operate with less scrutiny and limited educational requirements.

2. The House Introduces Legislation to Address COVID-19 Outbreak

Washington D.C., like the rest of the nation and world, is responding to the outbreak of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus). On the evening of March 11, President Trump addressed the nation live from the  Oval Office. On Capitol Hill, negotiators continue to work to find a compromise between competing coronavirus response bills.

NECA’s Look Ahead: In response to the crisis, the Senate plans to cancel a previously scheduled recess week. The House will gavel out today and will return to Washington D.C. on March 23, 2020 to finish the negotiations on a final response package. NECA CEO, David Long, released the following statement in response to the legislative and regulatory negotiations: “ NECA government affairs remains fully engaged with Members of Congress, the Department of Labor, and OSHA on how to best handle the COVID-19 outbreak with safety being a top concern for our contractors and their employees. We continue to monitor legislation coming out of Congress to address the economic impact of this outbreak and will inform our contractors on how to best work with the new regulations when they are finalized.”

3. NLRB Chairman Testifies Regarding Funding      

On March 11, 2020, the House Committee on Appropriations held a hearing on the National Labor Relations Board Budget Request for FY 2021. Testifying on behalf of the NLRB was the Honorable John Ring, Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB budget request and justification documents can be found here.

NECA’s Look Ahead: The NLRB’s FY 2021 budget request funds their mission to protect the rights of employees, unions, and employers under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). NECA believes that lawmakers should continue to fully fund the NLRB and encourage their leadership to expedite the hiring of their regional offices.

Personal Contributions = 96
Corporate Contributions = 329

NECAPAC Fund to 3-20-20 = $105,390
ADMIN Fund to 3-20-20 = $42,035 

Total Contributions to Date = 425
Total Dollars to Date = $147,425

Personal Contributions = 96
Corporate Contributions = 329

NECAPAC Fund to 3-27-20 = $105,390
ADMIN Fund to 3-27-20 = $42,035

Total Contributions to Date = 425
Total Dollars to Date = $147,425

Personal Contributions = 129
Corporate Contributions = 329

NECAPAC Fund to 4-3-20 = $110,600
ADMIN Fund to 4-3-20 = $42,035

Total Contributions to Date = 458
Total Dollars to Date = $152,635 

Special thanks to John Banks of Motor Shop Electrical Construction for renewing his 2020 PLC membership!

Personal Contributions = 137
Corporate Contributions = 329

NECAPAC Fund to 4-10-20 = $116,720
ADMIN Fund to 4-10-20 = $42,035

Total Contributions to Date = 466
Total Dollars to Date = $158,755 

Personal Contributions = 137
Corporate Contributions = 329

NECAPAC Fund to 4-17-20 = $116,720
ADMIN Fund to 4-17-20 = $42,035

Total Contributions to Date = 466
Total Dollars to Date = $158,755 

Personal Contributions = 138
Corporate Contributions = 330

NECAPAC Fund to 4-24-20 = $116,997
ADMIN Fund to 4-24-20 = $44,535

Total Contributions to Date = 468
Total Dollars to Date = $161,532 

Special thanks to Brent Fatzinger of Abbot Electric for renewing his PLC membership!

Personal Contributions = 142
Corporate Contributions = 330

NECAPAC Fund to 5-1-20 = $123,357
ADMIN Fund to 5-1-20 = $44,535

Total Contributions to Date = 472
Total Dollars to Date = $167,892

Special thanks to Mark Huston of Lone Star Electric for renewing his PLC membership!

Personal Contributions = 147
Corporate Contributions = 361

NECAPAC Fund to 5-8-20 = $134,517
ADMIN Fund to 5-8-20 = $50,535

Total Contributions to Date = 508
Total Dollars to Date = $185,052

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