Government Relations Update, Roofing Day, TRIA DC Fly-In

by TRI Lobbyist, Craig S. Brightup

​Biden Nominates Julie Su for Labor Secretary
With U.S. Labor Sec. Marty Walsh leaving to head the NHL Players Union, President Biden nominated Deputy Labor Sec. Julie Su for the job.  But Su’s record as California’s Labor Sec. features unemployment insurance fraud that squandered roughly $30 billion and House Republicans have written the White House about her “incompetence.”  The International Franchise Association and other business groups are also mounting campaigns to keep Su from getting the job.

Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act
On Feb. 28, House Democrats reintroduced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (now the Richard L. Trumka PRO Act), HR 20, with 207 Democrat cosponsors (and one Republican).  It would shift organizing and collective bargaining power to the unions but has no chance of passing the Republican House.  However, Biden’s National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) majority and General Counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, are trying to implement the PRO Act through Board decisions and regulations, and also by targeting high-profile entities.  As such, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the ranking member of the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent a letter to NLRB Chair Lauren McFerran and GC Abruzzo concerning their weaponizing the agency’s enforcement power.                    
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Roofing Day in DC
As of March 15, there are some 170 Roofing Day registrants.  Thus far, three are from the TRIA team.

TRIA Washington Fly-In
​TRIA’s Washington Fly-In surrounding Roofing Day will prioritize face-time meetings with members of Congress.  Though in the planning stage, House members could include Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), who’s in  Republican leadership, Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL).  On the Senate side, former OSHA head Loren Sweatt is now on Republican staff for the HELP Committee, and Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) sit on the HELP Committee which has jurisdiction over DOL/OSHA.  TRIA’s regular meeting with NAHB will be on the agenda, too.