http://www.necanet.org/NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game. St. LouisMissouriWork Safety Work ExcellenceAmerican Subcontractors AssociationASAKaiser ElectricawardSafetyHome Pagedemolitionundergroundfinal rulerulederrickscranesOSHACapitol HillAdvocacyPensionimmigrationlobbyingmultiemployer pension reformLegislative ConferenceAdvocacy IssuesBusiness and Market DevelopmentChapter Staff IntranetGlobalDisplay AreasNJATCHoneywelltrainingPPEplatinumNJATC training partnerspersonal protective equipmentsafety equipmentvirtual academySalisbury by HoneywellLabor Relationsunion posteremployee rightsposterNLRBNational Labor Relations BoardDC Court of AppealsDOLICEverificatione-VerifyvisapaperworkI-9 formBusiness DevelopmentNECA NOWLeadershipJohn GrauEventsProfessional DevelopmentNationalLeadership SkillsFinance and ProfitablityManagementPublic AwarenessMarketsIndustry Research and TrendsAbout UsFuture LeadersMEIConferencemanagement educationSeattleLegislativePLCECPACFinance CommitteeMax Baucus (D-MT)iPADrafflewinnerMikecLighthouse ElectricHydraulicFracturingSpace and TechnologyScienceEPApollutionfracking bnd@necanet.org jessica.cardenas@necanet.org beth.margulies@necanet.orgurn:uuid:2a1295e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/ggtOsPlScoA/kaiser-electric-awarded-for-making-safety-a-top-prioritybnd@necanet.orgSt. LouisMissouriWork Safety Work ExcellenceAmerican Subcontractors AssociationASAKaiser ElectricawardSafetySafetySafetyHome PageSun, 19 May 2013 13:11:39 Z<em>The following article was originally published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on May 13, 2013</em><br /> <br /> <em><strong> Kaiser Electric President: If You Can't Work Safe, You Can't Work at Kaiser</strong></em><br /> <br /> (Fenton, MO, May 13, 2013) &ndash; Steve Giacin, president of Kaiser Electric, has made safety the number one priority at his company, telling his workers that safety is not negotiable, and if they don't want to work safe, then Kaiser is not the company for them.<br /> <br /> The awards case in Kaiser Electric's front lobby is a testament to the company's commitment to safety. Kaiser Electric was awarded a Work Safety Excellence Award at the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) - Midwest Council's 20th Anniversary Awards Gala on April 13. In fact, Kaiser has qualified or received an ASA safety award 10 times out of the last 14 years. The criteria for the ASA Midwest Safety Awards is a rigorous process that evaluates a company&rsquo;s complete commitment to the overall workplace safety and health environment for their employees. Factors considered are recordable injuries, days away lost time incident rates, ongoing safety training, a clear management commitment for safety, and employee participation in the safety process.<br /> <br /> Giacin says he tirelessly promotes safety as a company culture and recently revamped Kaiser's safety program to require&nbsp; that workers wear safety glasses and gloves at all times when on a job site. He has even provided workers with four different glove options for performing different tasks and&nbsp; implemented a safety inspection project form that project managers must complete each time they arrive on a job site.<br /> <br /> Giacin also holds monthly meetings with his supervisors and bi-monthly meetings with his project management staff with safety always the first item on the agenda for every meeting.<br /> <br /> "From management, to the supervisors to the actual field installers, we don't just talk the talk, we walk the walk," Giacin said. "Creating a company culture for safety needs to start at the top, from my office, with me."<br /> <br /> Workers in violation of Kaiser's tough safety standards are first given a verbal warning, followed by a written warning and suspension for not complying a second time. Giacin proudly boasts that his tough safety standards have resulted in an Experience Modification Rate (EMR) as low as .72 for the company. EMR is a number used by insurance companies to gauge both past cost of injuries and future chances of risk. The lower the EMR of a&nbsp; business, the lower its worker compensation insurance premiums will be. An EMR of 1.0 is considered the industry average.<br /> <br /> <strong>About Kaiser Electric.</strong> Kaiser Electric has been providing electrical contracting and engineering services to the St. Louis metro area for more than 60 years. The company focuses primarily on industrial, commercial, healthcare, design/build and communications projects and employs 150 field electricians with a fleet of 50 vehicles. Kaiser Electric is headquartered in Fenton, Missouri, with divisions in Central Missouri and Southern Illinois.&nbsp; For more information about Kaiser Electric, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kaiserelectric.com">www.kaiserelectric.com</a> or call 636-305-1515.<br /> <br />The awards case in Kaiser Electric's front lobby is a testament to the company's commitment to safety. President Steve Giacin shares some of his strategies.<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/ggtOsPlScoA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/news/2013/05/19/kaiser-electric-awarded-for-making-safety-a-top-priorityurn:uuid:4a0295e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/8DKAL9AP66o/final-rule-on-cranes-and-derricks-in-demolition-and-underground-construction-takes-effect-may-23bnd@necanet.orgdemolitionundergroundfinal rulerulederrickscranesOSHASafetySafetySat, 18 May 2013 12:18:25 ZThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently issued a final rule that applies the requirements of the August 2010 cranes and derricks in construction standard to demolition work and underground construction. Application of this rule will protect workers from hazards associated with hoisting equipment used during construction activities.<br /> <br /> "It is important that construction workers in these sectors receive the same safety protections as other construction workers," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "Extending this rule to demolition and underground construction work will help save lives and prevent injuries."<br /> <br /> This <a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-04-23/html/2013-09153.htm">final rule</a> applies the same crane rules to underground construction and demolition that are already being used by other construction sectors, including the requirement for operator certification to be completed by November 10, 2014.&nbsp; and streamlines OSHA's standards by eliminating the separate cranes and derricks standard currently used for underground and demolition work. The rule also corrects errors made to the underground construction and demolition standards in the 2010 rulemaking.<br /> <br /> The final rule becomes effective May 23, 2013.<br /> <br /> For more information, go to <a href="http://www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/">www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/</a>OSHA has issued a final rule that applies the requirements of the August 2010 cranes and derricks in construction standard to demolition and underground work. The rule is slated to go into effect May...<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/8DKAL9AP66o" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/news/2013/05/18/final-rule-on-cranes-and-derricks-in-demolition-and-underground-construction-takes-effect-may-23urn:uuid:e60095e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/bnBvlZ_IGoE/electrical-contractors-put-a-face-to-needed-multiemployer-pension-tax-reform-and-infrastructure-investmentbnd@necanet.orgCapitol HillAdvocacyPensionimmigrationlobbyingmultiemployer pension reformLegislative ConferenceHome PageAdvocacy IssuesBusiness and Market DevelopmentChapter Staff IntranetAdvocacySat, 18 May 2013 10:10:37 ZMore than 130 members of the National Electrical Contractors Association met with more than 100 of their elected members of Congress on Capitol Hill this week to put their faces and stories with the urgent need for multiemployer pension reform, comprehensive tax reform, and&nbsp; highlight the need for real investment in our nation's infrastructure.<br /> <br /> The contractors were in Washington, D.C. for NECA&rsquo;s Legislative Conference and Political Leadership Council Summit. The annual event is the electrical construction industry&rsquo;s largest constituent action initiative, when members of Congress can learn how legislation is affecting job-creators and business innovation in their home districts.<br /> <br /> The conference was structured around the legislative issues most affecting NECA contractors, the workers they employ, and the communities they serve. Expiring multiemployer pension protections could remove retirement security for more than 200,000 electrical workers. Comprehensive tax reform, including elimination of the estate tax, is necessary to stabilize an industry still struggling after the global recession. Contractors also called for a plan to remedy decades of under-investment and over-use of the national electrical grid.<br /> <br /> During the Legislative Conference, NECA members heard first-hand from members of Congress from both chambers. NECA recognized Rep. John Kline (R-MN) as "Legislator of the Year" for his leadership on pension reform and addressing our concerns on implementations of the Affordable Care Act. <br /> <br /> &ldquo;We are here to educate our members of Congress about who NECA is and the important work we do in our communities and their districts,&rdquo; said NECA District 3 Vice President and Government Affairs Committee Chairman Alex Owen. &ldquo;They need to hear how the decisions they make affect how many people we can employ and how we can grow our companies.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> &ldquo;This isn&rsquo;t the time to wait-and-see. Too much is on the line," said Marco A. Giamberardino, NECA Executive Director, Government Affairs. "That is why so many NECA contractors came to Capitol Hill this week to speak with their legislators.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> NECA's Political Leadership Council Chairman David Nielsen encouraged electrical contractors to remain engaged in the national political process. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re here because we believe in our industry and our companies, and we believe that we can make them even better by participating in advocacy,&rdquo; he said.<br /> <br /> A full recap of the 2013 NECA Legislative Conference, including meeting agenda, NECA position statements, event photos and Newscast video, will be posted online under &ldquo;Event Archive.&rdquo;The 2013 NECA Legislative Conference and PLC Summit was held May 14-16 with nearly 130 NECA contractors and chapter executives participating in more than 100 visits with members of Congress. They...<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/bnBvlZ_IGoE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/news/2013/05/18/electrical-contractors-put-a-face-to-needed-multiemployer-pension-tax-reform-and-infrastructure-investmenturn:uuid:c5f694e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/Sq7KembTbXY/neca-contractors-put-a-face-on-the-issuesjessica.cardenas@necanet.orgAdvocacy IssuesHome PageGlobalAdvocacyDisplay AreasFri, 17 May 2013 18:53:09 Z<p><span>The 2013 NECA Legislative Conference and PLC Summit was held May 14-16 with nearly 130 NECA contractors and chapter executives participating in more than 100 visits with members of Congress. They stormed Capitol Hill to discuss NECA's top legislative issues, highlighting <a href="http://www.necanet.org/docs/default-source/position-papers/provide-permanent-relief-for-multiemployer-defined-benefit-pension-plans.pdf?sfvrsn=0">Pension Reform</a>, <a href="http://www.necanet.org/docs/default-source/position-papers/support-comprehensive-tax-reform-to-create-a-sustainable-and-competitive-business-environment.pdf?sfvrsn=0">Comprehensive Tax Reform</a>, <a href="http://www.necanet.org/docs/default-source/position-papers/neca-legislative-paper---infrastructure-investment.pdf?sfvrsn=2">Infrastructure Investment</a>, and <a href="http://www.necanet.org/docs/default-source/position-papers/support-a-comprehensive-national-energy-strategy.pdf?sfvrsn=0">Energy Policy</a>. <br /> <br /> During the Legislative Conference, NECA members heard first-hand from members of Congress from both chambers. NECA recognized Rep. <a href="http://www.kline.house.gov/">John Kline</a> (R-MN) as "Legislator of the Year" for his leadership on pension reform and addressing our concerns on implementations of the Affordable Care Act.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> On May 14, NECA members heard from Nina Olson, the National Taxpayer Advocate, who leads the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization within the IRS that helps U.S. taxpayers work with the IRS to correct systemic and procedural problems.&nbsp;Following Olson, a panel of Congressional Chiefs of Staff briefed NECA members on how to make the most of their Hill visits and be an effective advocate. </span></p> <p><span>On May 15, several Members of Congress spoke to NECA about the top issues facing the 113^th Congress.&nbsp; First up was Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH) who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and spoke on Tax Reform.&nbsp; Next was Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) speaking on Pension Reform from his perspective as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions on the Education and the Workforce Committee.&nbsp; Following Rep. Roe was Sen. Angus King (I-ME) who focused on the importance of bipartisanship and Energy Policy. Lastly, Freshman Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) who briefed NECA members on his upcoming legislation that will increase investments in our nation&rsquo;s infrastructure and create more jobs for NECA contractors.&nbsp; Wednesday evening&rsquo;s reception took place at the site of NECA&rsquo;s forthcoming Legislative Headquarters.&nbsp; </span></p> <p><span>On May 16, the Politics for Breakfast session included Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) and Rep Kurt Schrader (D-OR) who emphasized the importance of NECA members participating in the Legislative Conference and speaking up on the issues that are critically essential to each and every business owner.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>The final speaker of the 2013 Legislative Conference was A.B. Stoddard, the associate editor and a columnist at&nbsp;The Hill&nbsp;newspaper and a regular contributor to the paper's&nbsp;Pundits' Blog.&nbsp; </p> <p>She discussed the several Washington scandals that hit the news this week, how they could impact the already strained relations between the White House and Congress,&nbsp;and the potential consequences on key issues of importance to NECA contractors.</p> <p></span></p> <p><span>Thank you to all participants who made this year&rsquo;s Legislative Conference a success!</span></p>The 2013 NECA Legislative Conference and PLC Summit was held May 14-16 with nearly 130 NECA contractors and chapter executives participating in more than 100 visits with members of Congress.<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/Sq7KembTbXY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/05/17/neca-contractors-put-a-face-on-the-issuesurn:uuid:d0f694e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/r52QgsQ-res/ecpac-updatejessica.cardenas@necanet.orgGlobalHome PageAdvocacy IssuesAdvocacyDisplay AreasFri, 17 May 2013 18:53:03 Z<span>The 2013 Legislative Conference was also a great success for ECPAC. NECA members contributed a total of $29,515, bringing our 2013 total for the year to $532,171.</span> <p><span>Special thanks to Mahoning Valley Chapter&rsquo;s Chris Jaskiewicz of VEC Inc., North Florida Chapter&rsquo;s Ron Autrey of Miller Electric Company, and Louisville Chapter&rsquo;s James Strange of Advanced Electrical Systems, Inc. for renewing their PLC memberships!</span></p> <p><span>Congratulations to Greater Cleveland Chapter&rsquo;s Michael Joyce of Zenith Systems for joining the PLC!</span></p> <p><span>Thank you to all of our contributors!</span></p>The 2013 Legislative Conference was a great success for ECPAC. NECA members contributed a total of $29,515, bringing our 2013 total for the year to $532,171.<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/r52QgsQ-res" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/05/17/ecpac-updateurn:uuid:3c7894e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/T55gDKlUzWY/salisbury-by-honeywell-njatc-step-up-training-partnershipbnd@necanet.orgNJATCHoneywelltrainingPPEplatinumNJATC training partnerspersonal protective equipmentsafety equipmentvirtual academySalisbury by HoneywellLabor RelationsChapter Staff IntranetHome PageSat, 11 May 2013 19:38:00 ZAs <a href="http://tinyurl.com/cxy3bpb">NECA News previously reported</a>, Salisbury by Honeywell recently launched a new services business, <a href="http://www.salisburybyhoneywell.com/en-US/SAS/Pages/default.aspx">Salisbury Assessment Solutions (SAS)</a>, to offer assessments and studies on electrical equipment. SAS could provide profitable business development opportunities for NECA contractors. A press release from our industry's National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee details how Salisbury by Honeywell and NJATC are partnering to produce a workforce to help meet such opportunities.<br /> <br /> Specifically, NJATC has entered into agreement with Salisbury by Honeywell, an industry leader in providing manufacturing of personal protective equipment and live line tools to protect commercial and industrial electrical workers from the hazards of their job, to create the Salisbury by Honeywell Salisbury Personal Protective Equipment Academy program to train the next generation of electrical union workers. Over the next five years, Salisbury by Honeywell will donate $750 thousand in cash, product and training support, to enhance the IBEW/NECA training efforts by adding state-of-the-art learning technology to the classroom. <br /> <br /> The national Salisbury by Honeywell $750 thousand Dollar program establishes Salisbury by Honeywell as an NJATC "<a href="http://www.njatc.org/partners.aspx">Platinum Level" training partner</a> and demonstrates its commitment to NJATC and IBEW-NECA training programs. Salisbury by Honeywell's commitment will add programs, resources and scholarships to NJATC curriculum, including: <br /> &nbsp;<br /> &bull; Salisbury Personal Protective Equipment Academy, a new educational component that adds dynamic online training to the traditional mix of book learning, classroom and lab experience, creating a rich, blended learning model. The Salisbury Personal Protective Equipment Academy will become mandatory safety training for all IBEW apprentices who earn credit for the NJATC Personal Protective Equipment Course, as well as all students who receive training under the umbrella of the IBEW Construction Wireman (CW) and Construction Electrician (CE) classifications. <br /> <br /> &ldquo;This virtual academy will include subjects such as proper selection and deployment of a worker&rsquo;s personal protective equipment. The learning modules will be created in a fashion which will allow them to be utilized at multiple stages of a student&rsquo;s learning,&rdquo; said Marty Riesberg the director of curriculum development for the NJATC. <br /> <br /> &bull; Salisbury by Honeywell product endowments for local JATC classrooms will allow students to train with the &ldquo;best-in-class&rdquo; electrical components, developed by Salisbury and the increased uniformity of products in the lab that will in turn help instructors teach more efficiently. <br /> <br /> &bull; Salisbury by Honeywell National Training Institute (NTI) graduate and outstanding apprentice recognition programs rewards graduates of NTI instructor training with Salisbury by Honeywell products. <br /> <br /> &bull; Salisbury by Honeywell NTI Outstanding Graduate Scholarship program, which awards two graduates each year with a $5,000 scholarship to be used to support the cost of their continuing participation at the National Training Institute.&nbsp; <br /> &nbsp;<br /> &ldquo;The NJATC has had a long time relationship with Salisbury by Honeywell and this takes it to a whole new level. We could not be happier with such strong and lasting support,&rdquo; said NJATC Executive Director Michael Callanan. &ldquo;The NJATC strives to produce the very best training materials possible and we believe that this type of presentation of training materials is the future for how IBEW/NECA apprentices will learn their trade. We are grateful for the commitment from Salisbury by Honeywell to help us achieve this goal.&rdquo; <br /> &nbsp;<br /> &ldquo;Salisbury by Honeywell is a strong believer in the IBEW and NECA and we are committed to supporting the future of skills training in America,&rdquo; said Salisbury by Honeywell&rsquo;s General Manager Bruce Spencer. &ldquo;We have worked together with the NJATC in various ways for over ten years and I&rsquo;m very happy to formally recognize the value of this great relationship.&rdquo; <br /> <br /> For more information about these opportunities, or any aspect of electrical contracting business development, NECA contractors are invited to contact Mir M. Mustafa at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mir.mustafa@necanet.org">mir.mustafa@necanet.org</a> or <strong>301-215-4556</strong>.The NJATC has received a $750,000, five-year commitment from Salisbury by Honeywell to establish a new virtual academy. The new training programs it will fund should help create a workforce that is...<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/T55gDKlUzWY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/news/2013/05/11/salisbury-by-honeywell-njatc-step-up-training-partnershipurn:uuid:457694e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/sKdv4DzZL50/d.c.-appeals-court-invalidates-nlrb-poster-requirementbnd@necanet.orgunion posteremployee rightsposterNLRBNational Labor Relations BoardDC Court of AppealsDOLHome PageChapter Staff IntranetLabor RelationsSat, 11 May 2013 18:01:33 ZIn 2011, the National Labor Relations Board issued a rule that would have required more than 6 million businesses to display an 11-by-17-inch <a href="http://www.nlrb.gov/poster">poster</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; in a prominent location explaining the rights of workers to join a union and bargain collectively to improve wages and working conditions. The posters also made clear that workers have a right not to join a union or be coerced by union officials.<br /> <br /> The NLRB had argued that the poster was necessary because so few workers currently belong to unions that there is no longer a general knowledge of the right of workers to form unions &mdash; a situation that particularly affects young workers and immigrants. The Board's notice-posting rule has had a long and contentious history. The original petition was filed in 1993, but it was not until 2010 when the Board, by then with a majority of members appointed by President Obama, issued a proposed rule.<br /> <br /> But, immediately following its promulgation, <a href="http://tinyurl.com/bscu9od">the NLRB rule was challenged in federal district courts</a> in South Carolina and in the District of Columbia. Both federal district courts invalidated the rule in whole or part. In light of the serious questions about the rule, the DC Circuit granted a temporary injunction staying the rule pending the appeal. The South Carolina case is still pending before the Fourth Circuit<em> [NLRB v. Chamber of Commerce of the United States et al., Case No. 12-1757].<br /> </em><br /> Most recently, ruling in the case of <em>National Association of Manufacturers et al. v. NLRB, [Case No. 12-5068]</em> last Tuesday, May 7, 2013, the DC Circuit's found the rule to be invalid because it violates various provisions of the National Labor Relations Act. The Court of Appeals rested much of its decision on employer free speech rights guaranteed under Section 8(c) of the Act, 29 U.S.C. &sect;158(c). That section bars the Board from considering non-coercive employer speech as evidence of an unfair labor practice, but the Board's rule would treat the failure to post its notice as an unfair labor practice.<br /> <br /> <strong>What Does This Mean for You?</strong><br /> <br /> Although NLRB has not indicated how, or if, it will react, it is clear that the court vacated the posting rule, so the rule is simply without effect unless the court's decision is reversed. It is unlikely that employers will be required to post the NLRB&rsquo;s notice any time soon, if ever. <em>NECA News</em> will monitor developments and we'll let you know if anything changes.<br /> <br /> However, <strong>federal contractors on projects worth a least $100,000 are still required to post a similar notice.</strong> This poster generally advises employees about their rights to engage in protected concerted activity under the National Labor Relations Act, as well as their right to refrain from engaging in that activity. The poster also describes the industries and employees that are not subject to the NLRA. Federal contractors are required to include a contract provision requiring posting of the notice in all subcontracts with a value of more than $10,000. <br /> <br /> The poster must be physically displayed in the normal "conspicuous places" other employment related posters are located. The notice must be posted at all locations on which work on the federal contract is performed or is being allocated to the federal contract. When a substantial portion of the workforce does not speak English, the notice must be posted in the language spoken by those employees. When the employer routinely provides employees notices by electronic means, the employer must do so in this instance as well, typically by providing a link to the Department of Labor website.<br /> <br /> For more information on posting requirements for federal contractors, please visit <a href="http://www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/EO13496.htm">http://www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/EO13496.htm</a><br />The DC Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated the NLRB's rule requiring the posting of employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act. Federal contractors are still required to post a similar...<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/sKdv4DzZL50" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/news/2013/05/11/d.c.-appeals-court-invalidates-nlrb-poster-requirementurn:uuid:2a6794e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/UC3FkhFG5n0/ecpac-updatejessica.cardenas@necanet.orgAdvocacy IssuesAdvocacyGlobalHome PageDisplay AreasFri, 10 May 2013 18:40:02 ZPersonal Contributions = 426 <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Corporate Partner Gifts = 218</p> <p>ECPAC Fund to Date = $438,751</p> <p>Admin Fund to Date = $63,905</p> <p>Total Gifts to Date = 644</p> <p>Total Dollars to Date = $502,931</p>ECPAC totals as of May 10, 2013.<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/UC3FkhFG5n0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/05/10/ecpac-updateurn:uuid:176794e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/UyGuRC9DaWU/neca-on-the-movejessica.cardenas@necanet.orgAdvocacy IssuesHome PageGlobalAdvocacyDisplay AreasFri, 10 May 2013 18:38:53 Z<p>This week was &ldquo;reform&rdquo; week as Marco and Kristen attended and participated in several key coalition meetings, including sessions on pension reform, comprehensive tax reform and immigration reform.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><br /> </p>NECA Government Affairs activities for the week of May 6, 2013.<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/UyGuRC9DaWU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/05/10/neca-on-the-moveurn:uuid:076794e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/YPJFwwXRHGY/infrastructure-bills-roll-out-for-considerationjessica.cardenas@necanet.orgAdvocacy IssuesHome PageGlobalDisplay AreasAdvocacyFri, 10 May 2013 18:37:12 ZAfter a few years of delay, Congress is finally beginning to move on some key infrastructure bills that have the potential to provide billions of dollars of work to help shore up our widening infrastructure investment gap and provide needed work for NECA contractors.<br /> <br /> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Water Infrastructure</span></p> <p>On May 8, Democratic and Republican leaders on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced bipartisan legislation that would invest $13.8 billion over five years through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) and other efforts to improve water quality. </p> <p>The &ldquo;Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2013&rdquo; was introduced by Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY), Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), Rep. Don Young (R-AK), and Rep. Peter King (R-NY).&nbsp; The bill renews the Federal commitment to addressing our Nation&rsquo;s substantial needs for wastewater infrastructure by investing $13.8 billion in the SRF, which, for decades, has been the traditional mechanism for Federal wastewater infrastructure assistance. </p> <p>The bill also proposes two complimentary initiatives for the long-term financing of wastewater infrastructure through the establishment of direct loan and loan guarantee programs and a Clean Water Infrastructure Trust Fund.&nbsp; These proposals, when implemented in concert, would leverage billions of additional dollars to meet local wastewater infrastructure needs.</p> <p>The bill would also permanently codify within the Clean Water Act, the application of Davis-Bacon prevailing wages for the construction of wastewater treatment infrastructure as well as the application of Buy American provisions.&nbsp; A summary of the legislation as well as letters of support can be found on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Democrats&rsquo; website.</p> <p>A <a href="http://democrats.transportation.house.gov/sites/democrats.transportation.house.gov/files/documents/Summary%20of%20Water%20Quality%20Protection%20and%20Job%20Creation%20Act.pdf">summary and section-by-section analysis</a> of the legislation is available <a href="http://democrats.transportation.house.gov/sites/democrats.transportation.house.gov/files/documents/Summary%20of%20Water%20Quality%20Protection%20and%20Job%20Creation%20Act.pdf">here</a>. </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Water Resources Infrastructure</span></p> <p>After nearly six years of delay, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and David Vitter (R-LA), Ranking Member, announced that the Senate would begin consideration of S.601, the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA).&nbsp; The legislation would provide critical flood protection for communities across the country, accelerates project delivery, and reforms the implementation of Corps of Engineers projects.</p> <p><a href="http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&amp;FileStore_id=98bb2b53-e141-4c4b-a767-aac0d75fc0e6">Click here</a> for the bill text for S. 601, WRDA, and the <a href="http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&amp;FileStore_id=1515a270-fa20-47db-9f43-b98b5d20fdf2">bill summary</a>.&nbsp;</p>After a few years of delay, Congress is finally beginning to move on some key infrastructure bills that have the potential to provide billions of dollars of work to help shore up our widening...<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/YPJFwwXRHGY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/05/10/infrastructure-bills-roll-out-for-considerationurn:uuid:f46694e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/enAmj-FWhps/public-participates-in-tax-code-refomjessica.cardenas@necanet.orgAdvocacy IssuesGlobalAdvocacyHome PageDisplay AreasFri, 10 May 2013 18:35:55 Z<span>Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Max Baucus (D-MT) and Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) launched </span><a href="http://taxreform.gov/">TaxReform.gov</a><span> on May 9.&nbsp; This new website provides ways for the American public to get involved in the debate on changes to the tax code. Americans can directly share their ideas and suggestions through the website and Twitter.&nbsp; The website is nonpartisan and was developed in partnership with the Joint Committee on Taxation.&nbsp; The Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees will consider the recommendations submitted on the website when crafting tax reform legislation.</span> <p> </p>Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Max Baucus (D-MT) and Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) launched TaxReform.gov on May 9.<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/enAmj-FWhps" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/05/10/public-participates-in-tax-code-refomurn:uuid:e06694e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/MLydx0QgtJg/neca-top-threejessica.cardenas@necanet.orgGlobalAdvocacy IssuesHome PageAdvocacyDisplay AreasFri, 10 May 2013 18:34:50 Z<p>1. <a href="http://www.necanet.org/events/national-events/2013/02/11/2013-national-legislative-conference"><strong>NECA&rsquo;s 2013 Legislative Conference and PLC Summit</strong></a> starts next week! Confirmed speakers for the conference are: &nbsp;Rep.&nbsp;<a href="http://renacci.house.gov/"><strong>Jim Renacci</strong></a>&nbsp;(R-OH), Rep.&nbsp;<a href="http://roe.house.gov/"><strong>Phil Roe</strong></a>&nbsp;(R-TN), Senator&nbsp;<a href="http://www.king.senate.gov/"><strong>Angus King</strong></a>&nbsp;(I-ME), Rep.&nbsp;<a href="http://delaney.house.gov/"><strong>John Delaney</strong></a>&nbsp;(D-MD), Rep.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lynnwestmoreland.org/index.php/bio/"><strong>Lynn Westmoreland</strong></a>&nbsp;(R-GA), Rep.&nbsp;<a href="http://schrader.house.gov/"><strong>Kurt Schrader</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;</strong>(D-OR), <a href="http://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/About-TAS/TAS-Leadership"><strong>Nina Olson</strong></a>, National Taxpayer Advocate, and&nbsp;<a href="http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/ab-stoddard"><strong>A.B. Stoddard</strong></a>, associate editor of The Hill newspaper.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NECA&rsquo;s Look Ahead:</span>&nbsp; Don&rsquo;t miss your opportunity to hear from these great leaders on the most pressing issues of the day, as well as meet with your colleagues and your own Members of Congress to discuss issues important to the industry.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.necanet.org/events/national-events/2013/02/11/2013-national-legislative-conference"><strong>Register now!</strong></a><span><strong></strong></span></p> <p>2. A Heritage Foundation study claims that the immigration reform proposal advanced by the Senate &ldquo;Gang of Eight&rdquo; will cost American taxpayers $6.3 trillion. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) challenged this study using his parents as evidence of the immigrant contribution.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NECA&rsquo;s Look Ahead:</span> The Senate Judiciary Committee approved fifteen and defeated two amendments on May 9.&nbsp; NECA will continue to follow progress made on the immigration reform proposal. </p> <p>3. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee gave wide approval on May 8 to the latest version of a NECA-supported bill from Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings, the manufacturing sector and the federal government. Portman amended the bill in the committee to include spending offsets.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NECA&rsquo;s Look Ahead:</span>&nbsp; Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) said all the bills that the panel approved might be on the floor by the end of the month.</p>NECA's top legislative stories for the week of May 6, 2013.<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/MLydx0QgtJg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/05/10/neca-top-threeurn:uuid:ecdf93e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/xHAPXVoUs78/neca-member-news-(supplemental-to-ntw-vol.-5-no.-19)bnd@necanet.orgSat, 04 May 2013 17:13:42 ZNECA Welcomes Six New Members Coefficient Electric &amp; Communications Systems, El Paso, Texas, El Paso Chapter, Accredited representative: Jack W. Jordan. Detroit Power Systems, Detroit, MI,...<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/xHAPXVoUs78" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/news/2013/05/04/neca-member-news-(supplemental-to-ntw-vol.-5-no.-19)urn:uuid:43d693e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/JNjPsTGuO7I/ecpac-updatejessica.cardenas@necanet.orgAdvocacy IssuesGlobalHome PageAdvocacyDisplay AreasFri, 03 May 2013 20:15:21 Z<span>Special thanks to Chicago and Cook County Chapter&rsquo;s Stephen Rivi of Audridge Electric in Illinois and Southern Colorado Chapter&rsquo;s James Peterson of Berwick Electric in Colorado for renewing their PLC memberships!</span> <p><span>Congratulations to Southern Colorado Chapter&rsquo;s Ron Guarienti of Pueblo Electrics Inc. in Colorado on becoming a PLC member!</span></p> <p><span>Districts 8 and 10 have 100% renewal of their PLC members and every chapter in District 10 has contributed to ECPAC!</span></p> <p><span>We now have a total of 53 PLC members and 7 PLC Chapters going into 2014! Several chapters are very close to their goals, so keep sending in your ECPAC Contributions!</span></p> <p><span>To see ECPAC&rsquo;s progress compared to 2012, see below. </span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> </td> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><strong><span>April 30, 2012</span></strong></p> </td> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><strong><span>April 30, 2013</span></strong></p> </td> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><strong><span>% change</span></strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><strong><span>Number of gifts</span></strong></p> </td> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><span>572</span></p> </td> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><span>630</span></p> </td> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><span>+ 10%</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><strong><span>Total $$</span></strong></p> </td> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><span>$423,420</span></p> </td> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><span>$493,696</span></p> </td> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><span>+ 17%</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><strong><span>PLC Members</span></strong></p> </td> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><span>43</span></p> </td> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><span>50</span></p> </td> <td valign="top" style="width: 128px;"> <p><span>+16%</span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><span>Grant NECA your Prior Approval! Federal law requires ECPAC to obtain written authorization from a member company prior to soliciting contributions to the PAC. If you would like to receive an Approval for Solicitation Authorization form, please&nbsp;</span><span><a href="mailto:NECAGovtAffairs@necanet.org"><strong><span>contact NECA Government Affairs</span></strong></a>.</span></p>We now have a total of 53 PLC members and 7 PLC Chapters going into 2014! Several chapters are very close to their goals, so keep sending in your ECPAC Contributions!<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/JNjPsTGuO7I" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/05/03/ecpac-updateurn:uuid:26d693e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/GGzgTpYZ2k4/neca-on-the-movejessica.cardenas@necanet.orgGlobalAdvocacyAdvocacy IssuesHome PageDisplay AreasFri, 03 May 2013 20:11:36 Z<span>Congress was not in session this week. Accordingly, Marco and Kristen took the opportunity to meet with several of our coalitions concerning energy policy, tax reform, and immigration reform.</span> <p><span>Red River Valley Chapter&rsquo;s Marvin Groves (left) of Marvin Groves Electric in Texas met with Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) on April 30. Thanks to Marvin for being so engaged with his local representative!&nbsp;</span></p> <img src="http://www.necanet.org/images/default-source/international-mission/thornberry-and-groves-picture.jpg?sfvrsn=0" title="Thornberry and Groves Picture" width="240" style="vertical-align: middle;" />Government Affairs activities for the week of April 29, 2013.<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/GGzgTpYZ2k4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/05/03/neca-on-the-moveurn:uuid:0ad693e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/Fbo6KjC3HXQ/epa-awards-$569-billion-in-wastewater-and-drinking-water-grants-to-new-york-and-new-jerseyjessica.cardenas@necanet.orgGlobalAdvocacy IssuesHome PageAdvocacyDisplay AreasFri, 03 May 2013 20:09:33 Z<span>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 2 announced that it will provide grants of $340 million to the state of New York and $229 million to the state of New Jersey for improvements to wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The funding will help storm-damaged communities in both states as they continue to recover from the damage caused by the storm on Oct. 29, 2012.&nbsp;</span> <p><span> <br /> In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, wastewater and drinking water treatment systems in New York and New Jersey were so severely damaged that some could not provide safe drinking water or treat raw sewage. The funding announced on May 2 will give states the capacity to further reduce risks of flood damage and increase the resiliency of wastewater and drinking water facilities to withstand the effects of severe storms similar to Sandy. <br /> <br /> The funds will be awarded as grants to the states and most will be given out to local communities as low or no interest loans that will be paid back to the states. Up to 30 percent of the money can be awarded as grants to communities rather than as loans.<br /> <br /> Almost 60 percent of the funds will go to New York and about 40 percent of the funds will go to New Jersey for both the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs. The determination of how the funds should be allotted to New Jersey and New York was based on the percentage of the population living in impacted counties that FEMA designated for disaster assistance. <br /> <br /> Projects will be selected by the states of New Jersey and New York using project priority ranking systems that are based on elements of the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act and state regulations. The highest rankings will be given to proposed projects that will ensure water quality or provide the most protection to drinking water systems. Applicants may submit projects that incorporate green infrastructure, such as wetlands and detention basins to collect storm water or natural features like sand dunes that are capable of mitigating storm water impacts; raise equipment from basements; and provide backup sources of energy that are renewable. <br /> <br /> The states will review the proposed projects from impacted communities and then submit Intended use plans that include the recommended projects to EPA for review. The Intended use plans will be subject to public comment periods (30 days in New Jersey and 45 days in New York). Following these comment periods, EPA will evaluate the intended use plans and award the grants to the states. <br /> <br /> The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act provided EPA with $500 million for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $100 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The funding provided by the act is subject to sequestration, which has reduced the money available by $25 million for wastewater improvements and $5 million for drinking water. It also includes funding for EPA to administer the program.<br /> <br /> For more information about the federal government&rsquo;s response to Sandy:</span></p> <p><em><span><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/hurricane/sandy"><span>http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/hurricane/sandy</span></a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.epa.gov/sandy"><span>http://www.epa.gov/sandy</span></a></span></em></p>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 2 announced that it will provide grants of $340 million to the state of New York and $229 million to the state of New Jersey for improvements to...<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/Fbo6KjC3HXQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/05/03/epa-awards-$569-billion-in-wastewater-and-drinking-water-grants-to-new-york-and-new-jerseyurn:uuid:fbd593e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/KPDR1Te8YMg/e-verify-reintroduced-in-the-housejessica.cardenas@necanet.orgGlobalAdvocacy IssuesHome PageAdvocacyDisplay AreasFri, 03 May 2013 20:07:28 Z<span>On April 26, 2013, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) re-introduced the Legal Workforce Act, a bill that would expand and improve the current employee verification system by requiring all U.S. employers to use the federal E-Verify system to validate the work authorization of new employees.</span> <p><span>NECA believes that an effective, permanent, and mandatory electronic verification program is needed for both the public and private sectors. Current law requires employers who work with the federal government to verify the status only of their employees working on federal projects. NECA supports a mandatory system that is accurate, efficient and user friendly and improves current law to include the private sector. The program must include the following provisions:</span></p> <ul> <li>Require employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of any individual who has not been previously verified and allow them a reasonable period of time to verify current employees. </li> <li>Include a safe harbor for employers who use the system that waives liability for contractors who have complied with verification requirements but may still, unknowingly, use subcontractors that employ illegal workers.</li> <li>A "knowing" intent standard for liability for both employers and contractors that engage with subcontractors, suppliers and exchanges.</li> <li>Eliminate the duplicative and onerous administrative paperwork burden that fall on employers. </li> <li>A Federal preemption provision that will prohibit state and local governments from limiting the right for employers to verify the eligibility of their current and prospective employees.</li> </ul> <p><span>NECA will monitor the progress of the Legal Workforce Act and continue to encourage support for this legislation.</span></p>On April 26, 2013, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) re-introduced the Legal Workforce Act, a bill that would expand and improve the current employee verification system by requiring all U.S. employers to use...<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/KPDR1Te8YMg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/05/03/e-verify-reintroduced-in-the-houseurn:uuid:a1d593e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/Xa6DkE-VA9s/neca-top-threejessica.cardenas@necanet.orgGlobalAdvocacy IssuesHome PageAdvocacyDisplay AreasFri, 03 May 2013 19:30:29 Z<p><span>1. The Labor Department reported that the economy added 165,000 jobs in April while employment dropped to 7.5 percent. Expected job growth for April was only 145,000 after a disappointing 88,000 in March.</span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NECA&rsquo;s Look Ahead:</span><span> While construction unemployment rates fell to a five year low of 13.2 percent, the industry lost nearly 20,000 jobs in April.</span></p> <p><span>2. Rep. Ed Markey on Tuesday won the Democratic Party&rsquo;s nomination for Senate in Massachusetts,</span><span> defeating his congressional colleague and NECA-supported candidate Rep. Stephen Lynch in a special-election primary.</span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NECA&rsquo;s Look Ahead</span><span>: The general-election matchup in the race to fill Secretary of State John Kerry's old Senate seat in Massachusetts should be a lock for Rep. Ed Markey as he is challenged in the heavily-Democratic state by Republican businessman Gabriel Gomez.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>3. Meet the Leaders at&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.necanet.org/events/national-events/2013/02/11/2013-national-legislative-conference"><strong><span>NECA&rsquo;s 2013 Legislative Conference and PLC Summit</span></strong></a><span>. We have just confirmed Rep. <strong><a href="http://renacci.house.gov/">Jim Renacci</a></strong> (R-OH), Rep. </span><a href="http://roe.house.gov/"><strong><span>Phil Roe</span></strong></a><span> (R-TN) and Rep. </span><a href="http://schrader.house.gov/"><strong><span>Kurt Schrader</span></strong></a><strong> </strong><span>(D-OR) as speakers at this year&rsquo;s conference! Rep. Renacci, the newest member of the House Ways and Means Committee, will discuss efforts to reform the tax code. Rep. Roe will speak on Pension Reform, as he serves as the Chair of the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions. Rep. Schrader is the co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition&rsquo;s Health Care Reform Taskforce and is a prominent member of the Blue Dog Coalition. Also speaking at this year&rsquo;s National Legislative Conference includes Rep.&nbsp;</span><a href="http://delaney.house.gov/"><strong><span>John Delaney</span></strong></a><span>&nbsp;(D-MD), Senator&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.king.senate.gov/"><strong><span>Angus King</span></strong></a><span>&nbsp;(I-ME), Rep.&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.lynnwestmoreland.org/index.php/bio/"><strong><span>Lynn Westmoreland</span></strong></a><span>&nbsp;(R-GA), </span><a href="http://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/About-TAS/TAS-Leadership"><strong><span>Nina Olson</span></strong></a><span>, National Taxpayer Advocate, and&nbsp;</span><a href="http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/ab-stoddard"><strong><span>A.B. Stoddard</span></strong></a><span>, associate editor of The Hill newspaper.</span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NECA&rsquo;s Look Ahead:</span><span>&nbsp; Don&rsquo;t miss your opportunity to hear from these great leaders on the most pressing issues of the day, as well as meet with your colleagues and your own Members of Congress to discuss issues important to the industry.&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.necanet.org/events/national-events/2013/02/11/2013-national-legislative-conference"><strong><span>Register now!</span></strong></a> </p>NECA's top legislative stories for the week of April 29, 2013.<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/Xa6DkE-VA9s" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/05/03/neca-top-threeurn:uuid:47bd93e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/36e_wAOevds/new-i-9-forms-must-be-used-starting-may-7bnd@necanet.orgICEverificationimmigratione-VerifyvisapaperworkI-9 formBusiness and Market DevelopmentLabor RelationsAdvocacy IssuesHome PageLabor RelationsChapter Staff IntranetFri, 03 May 2013 15:42:11 Z<h3><em><strong>Employers Face Financial Penalties for Non-Compliance</strong></em></h3> As you should be aware by now <em>(<a href="http://tinyurl.com/ag6dgbv">NECA News Release March 15, 2013</a>)</em>, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. This form must be used beginning May 7, 2013, or the employer could face large fines. <br /> <br /> The new form is to be used for all new hires on or after May 7, and for re-verifying current employees whose work authorizations are expiring on or after May 7. (It is not necessary to replace current I-9 forms for employees who do not otherwise need to be re-verified at this time.)<br /> <br /> The new form contains additional data fields designed to capture foreign passport information (if applicable) as well as the employee&rsquo;s telephone number and email address (although telephone and email information is optional). The new form has grown from one page to two pages due in part to these additional fields, but also because the form&rsquo;s font type has been made larger and its layout has been changed in an effort to improve readability. The information that employers are required to provide has not changed.<br /> <br /> <strong>More Information. </strong>Along with the new form, new instructions are available, as is a revised &ldquo;Handbook for Employers&rdquo; (Form M-274) which provides additional guidance on completing the I-9 Form.<br /> <br /> The new I-9 Form and instructions are available at <a href="http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf">www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf</a><br /> <br /> The &ldquo;Handbook for Employers - Guidance for Completing Form I-9&rdquo; is available at <a href="http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/m-274.pdf">www.uscis.gov/files/form/m-274.pdf</a><br /> <br /> And a variety of employer and employee information concerning worker verification is available at <a href="http://www.uscis.gov/I-9Central">www.uscis.gov/I-9Central</a><br />The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. This form must be used beginning May 7, 2013, or the employer could face large...<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/36e_wAOevds" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/news/2013/05/03/new-i-9-forms-must-be-used-starting-may-7urn:uuid:89a993e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/HRizZ6FlCi0/neca-now-executive-leadership-conference-raises-the-barbeth.margulies@necanet.orgBusiness DevelopmentNECA NOWLeadershiptrainingJohn GrauEventsProfessional DevelopmentChapter Staff IntranetHome PageNationalProfessional DevelopmentLeadership SkillsFinance and ProfitablityManagementPublic AwarenessMarketsIndustry Research and TrendsBusiness and Market DevelopmentAbout UsThu, 02 May 2013 14:37:51 Z<p><span style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;">The National Electrical Contractors Association wrapped up its first national executive leadership conference, <strong><a href="http://necaconvention.org/neca-now/">NECA Now</a></strong>, held April 15-17 in Phoenix. The event marks the first time NECA has brought together member leaders and business experts for a joint national spring meeting. Close to 1,000 NECA contractors and company employees, along with NECA chapter staff and industry stakeholders, attended the event. The beautiful desert environment offered a lovely backdrop for the conference, with plenty of activities to enjoy the outdoors and explore the sights of Phoenix.</span></p> <img src="http://www.necanet.org/images/default-source/icons/necanowicon.jpg?sfvrsn=0" title="necanowicon" width="100" style="float: left;" /> <p>&ldquo;The time was right for this kind of conference. We saw a need for a leadership meeting, and NECA Now was a great success.&rdquo; said <a href="http://www.necanet.org/about-us/staff-leadership/staff-directory/lists/staff-leadership/john-grau">John M. Grau</a>, NECA CEO. &ldquo;NECA Now brought together several converging trends in our industry &ndash; how the business and technology of electrical contracting has changed in recent years and how we now have a younger, more diverse generation of electrical contractors.&nbsp; NECA Now focused on leadership in both areas to help us strengthen and grow as an association and an industry.&rdquo;</p> <h3>Sessions That Connect Leaders</h3> <p>Conference keynote and breakout sessions were all based on honing leadership skills and traits, whether through managing a family business, using technology to improve productivity, or encouraging innovative problem-solving. &nbsp;</p> <p>The conference was organized to make the most of collaboration between attendees and session leaders. Keynote and breakout sessions were followed by interactive breaks for more in-depth discussion between industry experts and attendees with questions. </p> <p>&ldquo;I attended the Social Security and Retirement program given by Robert Kron. Before attending I thought I knew what I needed to do for my [Social Security] retirement, but after attending I actually do know,&rdquo; wrote one company owner. &ldquo;During the interactive break, Robert showed me how to increase my Social Security retirement benefit.&nbsp; It was well worth the time!&rdquo;</p> <p>&ldquo;NECA Now&rsquo;s education sessions broke out from the traditional classroom model, and feedback from the participants was overwhelming positive about the change,&rdquo; said Beth Ellis, NECA Executive Director, Convention/Exposition. &ldquo;Our speakers did a great job of connecting their topics to what the industry is experiencing right now.&rdquo; </p> <h3>Technology in Action</h3> <p>Session materials, speaker bios, event updates and CEUs were tracked with a meeting app, sponsored by Graybar and developed exclusively for NECA Now. &ldquo;We wanted to make NECA Now as green as possible, and the app allowed us to eliminate binders and handouts. It also provided instant conference updates and connections for attendees,&rdquo; Ellis said. &ldquo;Adapting to new technology is something NECA contractors do well, so we wanted to use it at a meeting that was focused on preparing company leadership for the future. In an industry that&rsquo;s changing so rapidly, NECA should reflect those changes at our events.&rdquo;</p> <p>The evolving electrical construction industry was also extensively covered in market and business development discussions.&nbsp; &ldquo;NECA is placing more emphasis on expanding existing markets and entering new markets through aggressive business development. Embracing changing markets is another aspect of industry leadership that was covered at the conference,&rdquo; said Mir Mustafa, NECA Director, Business Development. Mustafa led two panel discussions on emerging markets such as energy storage, smart and micro grids, and distributed generation.</p> <p>Networking was another important feature of NECA Now. Participants enjoyed several team-building exercises, including a golf tournament sponsored by Graybar and a margarita-making challenge sponsored by Schneider Electric. </p> <h3>Another NECA Now?</h3> <p>Future plans for another NECA Now leadership conference are unknown, but Ellis said that event&rsquo;s success was strong enough to consider bringing it back. &ldquo;We planned NECA Now with extremely high goals. Several &nbsp;contractors said afterwards that they wanted more of their company employees to experience the leadership training offered at the conference. So long as there is a need for leadership development, you can be sure NECA will have the events that meet that need.&rdquo; </p> <p>Download the <strong>NECA Now app </strong>for session information and handouts and check out <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/necanet/sets/72157633261795598/">photos from the event on Flickr</a>.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/neca-now/id623399150?mt=8" class="more">DOWNLOAD THE NECA NOW APP FROM ITUNES </a><br /> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=a2z.Mobile.NECANOW&amp;hl=en" class="more">DOWNLOAD THE NECA NOW APP FROM GOOGLE PLAY </a> </p> <h4>About the National Electrical Contractors Association</h4> <p>NECA is the voice of the $130 billion electrical construction industry that brings power, light, and communication technology to buildings and communities across the U.S. NECA contractors help customers achieve their goals for energy conservation, efficiency and renewable power. NECA&rsquo;s national office and 119 local chapters advance the industry through advocacy, education, research and standards development. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://mail.necanet.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=925bd0f2d3b44345a8aa022439d94adc&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.necanet.org" target="_blank">www.necanet.org</a>.</p>Close to 1,000 NECA member contractors and industry leaders recently attended the first NECA Now Executive Leadership Conference focused on leadership development and innovative collaboration.<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/HRizZ6FlCi0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/press-releases/2013/05/02/neca-now-executive-leadership-conference-raises-the-barurn:uuid:d68693e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/_7d5AgRY5II/2013-future-leaders-conference-june-3-5-in-seattle-register-by-may-17!bnd@necanet.orgFuture LeadersProfessional DevelopmentMEIConferencemanagement educationSeattleProfessional DevelopmentHome PageChapter Staff IntranetProfessional DevelopmentManagementIndustry Research and TrendsBusiness and Market DevelopmentAbout UsWed, 01 May 2013 15:49:07 ZOur Future Leaders program offers up-and-coming professionals an opportunity to network with their peers and consider the challenges their companies, industry and association will face in the future. NECA's <em><strong>2013 Future Leaders Conference</strong></em> will be held <strong>June 3-5</strong> in <strong>Seattle</strong>, <strong>Washington</strong>, at <a href="http://http://thearcticclubseattle.com/?gclid=CJyIks6S9bYCFYpQOgodvy8AFQ">The Arctic Club Seattle</a> <em>(a Doubletree Hotel by Hilton).<br /> </em><br /> Our room block at The Artic Club expires within a few days &mdash; on May 17. Registration and hotel rooms are first-come, first-served, so <strong>we strongly urge you to register before May 17 to avoid the hotel cut-off. </strong><br /> <br /> "NECA's Future Leaders have made some incredible gains in the past few years," said Greg Mankevich, NECA Management Education Institute (MEI) executive director. "Our members are now serving on national standing committees and taking a greater role in shaping the resources the association provides to support the electrical construction industry. They want their companies and association to grow and be successful. They work collaboratively and want to learn from each other, as well as hear from leading experts. We&rsquo;re happy to provide a forum to facilitate this for them." <br /> <p><a href="http://necanet.org/docs/default-source/attachments/2013futureleaders_agenda.docm?sfvrsn=2" class="more">View Agenda</a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://apps.necanet.org/PortalTools/Meetings/MeetingDetail.cfm?meetingid=2560" style="font-weight: normal;" class="more">Register Now</a></span></p> The registration fee is $625 for members and $130 for guests. <h3> </h3> <p><a href="http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/S/SEAACDT-NEC-20130602/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG" style="font-weight: normal;" class="more">Book Hotel</a></p> Future Leaders attendees are responsible for their travel and hotel reservations. NECA has secured a base room rate of $183 + taxes and fees per single/double room. To make a reservation at the Arctic Club Seattle &ndash; A Double Tree Hotel by Hilton, click the "BOOK HOTEL" button above, or call reservations at <strong>206-340-0340</strong> and refer to "NECA.' The cut-off for room reservations is May 17. After that date, NECA can no longer guarantee a room.<br /> <br /> <p><a href="http://www.necanet.org/neca-community/peer-groups/future-leaders/2013-future-leaders-conference---seattle-wa/golf-outing-seattle-underground-tour" style="font-weight: normal;" class="more">Get Tour &amp; Golf Information</a></p> If you are interested in playing golf or going on the Seattle Underground Tour on Monday, June, please contact <strong>Mary Gianola</strong> at Precision Meetings at <strong>703-739-4480 ext. 230</strong> or by email at <a href="mailto:mary@teamprecision.com">mary@teamprecision.com</a>. Transportation will be provided to and from the Golf Club at Newcastle and the Seattle Underground Tour.<br /> <br /> <strong>NECA GENERAL REFUND POLICY.</strong> Refunds less an administrative fee of $75 will be given for cancellations received in writing to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:JSaldana@necanet.org">JSaldana@necanet.org</a> <strong>prior to May 23, 2013</strong>. Following this date, no refunds will be given; however, you may send an alternate to the event without additional charge. Please note, participants are also responsible for making hotel cancellations.<br /> <br /> If you need your username and password, or have any other questions, please contact <strong>Greg Mankevich</strong> via email (<a href="mailto:gam@necanet.org">gam@necanet.org</a>) or phone (<strong>301-215-4550</strong>).<br /> <br /> <em> We hope to see you there!</em>NECA's 2013 Future Leaders Conference will be held June 3-5 in Seattle, Washington, at The Arctic Club Seattle. Registration and hotel rooms are first-come, first-served, so we strongly urge you to...<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/_7d5AgRY5II" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/news/2013/05/01/2013-future-leaders-conference-june-3-5-in-seattle-register-by-may-17!urn:uuid:8f0793e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/lmFlrJRPFQY/neca-top-threejessica.cardenas@necanet.orgEventsLegislativePLCECPACFinance CommitteeMax Baucus (D-MT)Advocacy IssuesGlobalHome PageAdvocacyDisplay AreasFri, 26 Apr 2013 20:19:23 Z<span>1. Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), who on April 23 announced his plan to retire after the 113th Congress, said he will double-down on simplifying and improving the tax code, reducing the nation's debt, advancing trade agreements, and implementing the Affordable Care Act.<br /> <br /> </span> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NECA&rsquo;s Look Ahead:</span><span>&nbsp; Baucus is the eighth senator to announce plans to retire, joining his Finance Committee colleague Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) and Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), and Mike Johanns (R-NE). </span><span>With the departure of both Rockefeller and Baucus, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) would be the most senior Democrat on Finance. </span></p> <p><span>2. Thanks to our member involvement at the NECA Now and District 10 meetings, ECPAC took a huge leap this week.</span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NECA&rsquo;s Look Ahead:</span><span>&nbsp; <a href="http://www.necanet.org/advocacy/neca-on-the-issues/top-issues/top-issues/2013/04/26/ecpac-update">Click</a> to see our latest ECPAC totals and PLC renewals!</span> </p> <p>3. Meet the Leaders at <a href="http://www.necanet.org/events/national-events/2013/02/11/2013-national-legislative-conference">NECA&rsquo;s 2013 Legislative Conference and PLC Summit</a>. We are thrilled to announce that Rep. <a href="http://delaney.house.gov/">John Delaney</a> (D-MD) will be joining Senator <a href="http://www.king.senate.gov/">Angus King</a> (I-ME) and Rep. <a href="http://www.lynnwestmoreland.org/index.php/bio/">Lynn Westmoreland</a> (R-GA) at this year&rsquo;s conference. Rep. Delaney is a freshman Member of Congress and will be speaking on the importance of infrastructure investment.&nbsp; Also speaking at this year&rsquo;s National Legislative Conference includes <a href="http://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/About-TAS/TAS-Leadership">Nina Olson</a>, National Taxpayer Advocate, and <a href="http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/ab-stoddard">A.B. Stoddard</a>, associate editor of The Hill newspaper. </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NECA&rsquo;s Look Ahead:</span>&nbsp; Don&rsquo;t miss your opportunity to meet with your colleagues and Members of Congress to discuss issues important to your industry. <a href="http://www.necanet.org/events/national-events/2013/02/11/2013-national-legislative-conference">Register now!</a></p>NECA's top stories for the week of April 22, 2013.<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/lmFlrJRPFQY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/04/26/neca-top-threeurn:uuid:e90193e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/SA6ptnC3O6Q/ecpac-updatejessica.cardenas@necanet.orgECPACAdvocacy IssuesGlobalHome PageAdvocacyDisplay AreasFri, 26 Apr 2013 20:14:46 Z<h4>The NECA Now Executive Leadership Meeting in Arizona and the District 10 Meeting in California have increased our ECPAC numbers by $215,000!</h4> <br /> <p>At NECA Now, we raised over $150,000! We have three new PLC members and eighteen PLC renewals!&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 1</span></p> <ul> <li>Michael McPhee, McPhee Electric Ltd. (Connecticut Chapter) </li> <li>Michael Bender, Bana Electric Corporation (Long Island Chapter)</li> <li>David Pinter, Zwicker Electric (New York City Chapter)</li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 2</span></p> <ul> <li>Brent Fatzinger, Abbott Electric Inc. (North Central Ohio Chapter)</li> <li>Greg Stewart, The Superior Group (Central Ohio Chapter)</li> <li>Jeff Barber, Valley Electrical Consolidated Inc. (Mahoning Valley Chapter)</li> <li>John Frantz, Sidney Electric Company (Western Ohio Chapter)</li> <li>Dennis Quebe, Chapel Electric Company (Western Ohio Chapter)</li> <li>Bob Bruce, Bruce &amp; Merrilees Electric Company(Western Pennsylvania Chapter)</li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 3</span></p> <ul> <li>Joe Satterfield, Allison-Smith Co. LLC (Atlanta Chapter)</li> <li>Alex Owen, Brooks-Berry-Haynie Company (Atlanta Chapter)</li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 4</span></p> <ul> <li>David Hardt, Hardt Electric Company (Chicago &amp; Cook County Chapter)</li> <li>Jim McGlynn, McWilliams Electric Company Inc. (Chicago &amp; Cook County Chapter)</li> <li>Brad Weir, Kelso-Burnett Company (Chicago &amp; Cook County Chapter)</li> <li>Dan Wilcox, Wilcox Electric and Service (Illinois Chapter)</li> <li>Kevin Connelly, Connelly Electric (Northeastern Illinois Chapter)</li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 5</span></p> <ul> <li>Mark Huston, Lone Star Electric (North Texas Chapter)</li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 7</span></p> <ul> <li>Don Laffoon, Electrical Corporation of America (Kansas City Chapter)</li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 9</span></p> <ul> <li>Stan Lazarian, Electrical Service &amp; Supply Company (Los Angeles County Chapter)</li> <li>Don Campbell, Northern California Chapter</li> </ul> <p><strong>Congratulations to the Mahoning Valley Chapter for meeting its 2013 ECPAC goal with 16 contributions totaling $13,735 (237% of its goal).</strong></p> <p>The District 10 Meeting brought in over $60,000 for ECPAC! We now have one new PLC member from District 10 and six PLC renewals!</p> <ul> <li>Stacy Wilson, Wilson Construction Company (Northwest Line)</li> <li>Leslie Simmons, Bison Electric Inc. (Southwestern Line)</li> <li>Bill Green, L.E. Myers Co. (Southeastern Line)</li> <li>Jody Shea, Service Electric Company (Southeastern Line)</li> <li>Don Wilson, Wilson Construction Company (Northwest Line)</li> <li>Walter Parkes, O&rsquo;Connell Electric Company (Northeastern Line)</li> <li>Fred Davie, Hooper Corporation (Missouri Valley Line)</li> <li>Gary Tucci, Potelco Inc. (Northwest Line)</li> </ul> <p><strong>Here are the ECPAC totals:</strong></p> <p>Personal Contributions = 402</p> <p>Corporate Partner Gifts = 165</p> <p>ECPAC Fund to 4-26-2013 = $405,326</p> <p>Admin Fund to 4-26-2013 = $56,205</p> <p>Total Gifts to Date = 567</p> <p>Total Dollars to Date = $461,531</p> <p>Thanks to all for making ECPAC so successful!</p>The NECA Now Executive Leadership Meeting in Arizona and the District 10 Meeting in California have increased our ECPAC numbers by $215,000!<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/SA6ptnC3O6Q" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/04/26/ecpac-updateurn:uuid:71ff92e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/lfzIYOqN85M/win-with-ecpac!-announcing-the-neca-now-raffle-winnersjessica.cardenas@necanet.orgNECA NOWECPACiPADrafflewinnerMikecLighthouse ElectricAbout UsAdvocacy IssuesHome PageGlobalAdvocacyDisplay AreasFri, 26 Apr 2013 20:14:40 Z<span>With over $150,000 raised at NECA Now, we had a total of 12 raffles for $500! District 2 raised the most money for ECPAC and had an additional drawing for an iPad!</span> <p><span>Here are the winners:</span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 1</span></p> <ul> <li>David Pinter, Zwicker Electric (New York City Chapter)</li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 2</span></p> <ul> <li>Brent Fatzinger, Abbott Electric, Inc. (North Central Ohio Chapter)</li> <li>Greg Stewart, The Superior Group (Central Ohio Chapter)</li> <li>Larry Thompson, Thompson Electric Inc. (North Central Ohio Chapter)</li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 3</span></p> <ul> <li>Joe Satterfield, Allison-Smith Co. LLC (Atlanta Chapter)</li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 4</span></p> <ul> <li>Jim McGlynn, McWilliams Electric Company Inc. (Chicago &amp; Cook County Chapter)</li> <li>Dan Wilcox, Wilcox Electric and Service (Illinois Chapter)</li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 7</span></p> <ul> <li>Randolph Luhrs, Muska Electric (Minneapolis Chapter)</li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">District 9</span></p> <ul> <li>Dan Henrich, PDE Total Energy Solutions (Los Angeles County Chapter)</li> <li>Fred Neubauer, Neubauer Electric (Los Angeles County Chapter)</li> <li>Don Campbell, Northern California Chapter</li> </ul> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>And the winner of the iPad: </strong></span></p> <ul> <li>Todd Mikec, Lighthouse Electric Co. (Western Pennsylvania Chapter)</li> </ul> <p><span>Congratulations to all of our winners!</span></p>With over $150,000 raised at NECA Now, we had a total of 12 raffles! District 2 raised the most money for ECPAC and had an additional drawing!<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/lfzIYOqN85M" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/04/26/win-with-ecpac!-announcing-the-neca-now-raffle-winnersurn:uuid:48ff92e2-a036-6681-b630-ff0000347198http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NECANews/~3/Fx0uXtMVm2g/house-committee-to-hold-hearing-on-hydraulic-fracturingjessica.cardenas@necanet.orgHydraulicFracturingSpace and TechnologyScienceEPApollutionfrackingGlobalAdvocacy IssuesHome PageAdvocacyDisplay AreasFri, 26 Apr 2013 20:14:36 ZThe House Science, Space and Technology Committee will look at the Obama administration&rsquo;s research into hydraulic fracturing, the oil-and-gas development method that&rsquo;s increasing U.S. production while creating concerns about pollution. The purpose of the hearing is to examine what has happened since an April 2012 White House&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-04-17/pdf/2012-9473.pdf" mce_href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-04-17/pdf/2012-9473.pdf">executive order</a> that required new inter-agency collaboration on &ldquo;safe and responsible&rdquo; development of so-called unconventional natural-gas resources. <p><span style="line-height: 1.5;"><br /> The Committee will hear from officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Energy Department, the Interior Department and the Department of Health and Human Services.</span></p> <span> <p><span>Click&nbsp;<a href="http://science.house.gov/sites/republicans.science.house.gov/files/documents/HHRG-113-SY20-20130425-SD001%20.pdf" mce_href="http://science.house.gov/sites/republicans.science.house.gov/files/documents/HHRG-113-SY20-20130425-SD001%20.pdf" mce_style="line-height: 1.3em;">here</a> to read the &ldquo;hearing charter&rdquo; for more information about what the GOP-led House panel is exploring.</span></p> </span>The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will look at the Obama administration’s research into hydraulic fracturing, the oil-and-gas development method that’s increasing U.S. production...<br/> <br/> NECA is your best resource for industry news, legislative updates, and information you need to stay ahead of the game.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NECANews/~4/Fx0uXtMVm2g" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.necanet.org/news/news-release-archive/top-issues/2013/04/26/house-committee-to-hold-hearing-on-hydraulic-fracturing