This week, the House Committees of jurisdiction held markup hearings for budget reconciliation legislative recommendations. Once the committee’s markups are completed today, they will send their final recommendations to the House Budget Committee, which will then combine the bills for a final vote by the House. That vote is expected to take place the last week in February. The Senate will work to pass legislation before March 1.  

NECA’s Look Ahead: Although we are still early on in the process and all provisions in the reconciliation are subject to a number procedural tests in the Senate. The following provisions are included so far: 

• Expanded sick leave and paid leave credits through Sep. 30, 2021. 
• Extends the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance through Aug. 29, 2021, at $400 a week. 
• Employee Retention Tax Credit 
• COBRA Subsidies 
• Emergency Pension Plan Relief 

On Friday, February 5, the House of Representatives passed, with a 247 to 173 vote, the NECA-supported H.R. 447, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021. This legislation would invest more than $3.5 billion toward expanding opportunities and access to apprenticeships in the next five years, totaling nearly 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities. NECA worked to successfully defeat several amendments that would have watered down funding requirements for apprenticeship programs.

NECA’s Look Ahead: NECA has been a strong advocate of this legislation when it has been introduced in the past and hope that it will continue to move forward and help grow the skilled workforce. We will encourage the swift passage of this important legislation in the Senate. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the restrictions in place about in-person meetings on Capitol Hill, NECA has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 NECA Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., from May 3–6. 

Unfortunately, given the uncertainty regarding the legislative and electoral calendar, we will be unable to reschedule the Legislative Conference this year. However, we hope to hold a meeting later this summer that will focus on Policy and will feature Members of Congress as special speakers. Please stay tuned for more information.