Construction Employers of America Recommends Comprehensive Measures to Congress
The Construction Employers of America (CEA) represents seven construction employer associations and the more than 1.4 million employees that work for our member contractors. Like so many other US employers, they have been significantly impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak. Our member firms remain committed to completing essential services, advancing critical infrastructure projects and carrying out vital construction activities that provide work opportunities for skilled craftworkers across the country.
The CEA applauds Congress' quick passage of legislation to address the public health crisis and economic uncertainty caused by the outbreak of the Coronavirus. We do, however, have some serious concerns with aspects of the just enacted second response bill, H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). If these issues outlined below are not addressed in subsequent COVID-19 response packages, the requirements of FFCRA will create significant industry-wide challenges and cause significant financial and operational damage to the nation’s signatory construction contractors.
As the Federal government weighs additional policy options to address this public health and economic crisis, we urge you to ensure that any actions taken support the skilled building trades segment of the construction industry. Due to our essential role in building, operating and maintain the most critical public and private infrastructure around the nation and our role in training the future workforce required to provide these services, it is vital that our member firms and their workforce be sustained and allowed to perform their important work during this crisis.
Our suggestions are as follows: