Tile Roofing Industry Alliance Lobbyist, Craig Brightup, has provided the latest government relations update and activities on the following from July 2024:
Senate WIOA Bill
In April, the House voted 378-26 to pass A Stronger Workforce for America Act, H.R. 6655, to reauthorize and improve the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). In June, staff for the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee presented their WIOA bill which is promising. However, “blacklisting” language was added by Chairman Sanders so employers with administrative or court determinations of labor law violations couldn’t access WIOA. This would undermine their ability to use the program, set an unfair precedent and violate due process. Labor unions pushed similar language for federal procurement during the Clinton Administration which was eventually pulled and this is another attempt to set this precedent to benefit unions. Thus, Republican staff asked business groups to push to strike the blacklisting provision using the committee’s WIOA Feedback Form and TRIA sent a submission.
Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)
TRIA signed a letter which supports amendments sponsored by Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and James Lankford (R-OK) to the “must-pass” National Defense Authorization Act to delay CTA reporting requirements. These amendments are in sync with other legislative and legal initiatives to delay or repeal CTA requirements.
Challenges to NLRB’s Joint-Employer Rule
On July 19, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) withdrew its appeal to the 5th Circuit to restore its joint-employer rule which was struck down by a lower court.
SCOTUS Reins In Agencies
Three recent Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decisions are good news for TRIA members: repealing Chevron deference in Loper Bright v. Raimondo; extending the statute of limitations to challenge a rule in Corner Post v. Board of Governors; and limiting agency administrative law court judgments while upholding the right to a jury trial in SEC v. Jarkesy. Loper ended the 40-year Chevron doctrine that made courts defer to federal agency interpretations of laws they enforce. Corner Post clarifies the six-year limit to challenge a rule doesn’t start until the plaintiff is injured, not when the rule is final. Jarkesy found when the SEC seeks civil penalties, the defendant is entitled to a jury trial instead of an in-house administrative law court.
Tax Policy
TRIA signed a letter to a House Ways & Means Republican Tax Team reviewing fixes for 2025 tax hikes, urging that the IRC Sec. 199A pass-through deduction be maintained.
For more information on the TRIA Alliance and our Government Relations efforts, please visit our website at www.tileroofing.org.