Situational Awareness
Both the Senate and House of Representatives are in session this week. Sunday night, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) released a “Dear Colleague” letter outlining his plan to put forward a bipartisan immigration reform and border security package on the Senate floor for a vote this week. The package was the product of bipartisan negotiations earlier this year but was ultimately rejected by House GOP leadership. While the measure is expected to fail, it is a strong messaging tool for vulnerable Senate Democrats facing tough re-elections in the November elections. The House is scheduled to consider legislation that would establish a regulatory framework for digital assets.
GOP Lawmakers Introduce Disapproval Resolution on OSHA Walkaround Rule
Last week, Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) and 24 other House GOP lawmakers introduced a joint disapproval resolution under the Congressional Review Act that would block the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from implementing its final “walkaround” rule. The rule would amend OSHA’s Representatives of Employers and Employees regulation to clarify that employees can authorize a third-party employee representative to accompany an OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO) during a workplace inspection. The CRA provides Congress with the authority to issue a joint resolution of disapproval that would overturn federal agency rules and regulations. NCA issued a backgrounder on the walkaround rule; read it here.
House Education and Workforce Hearing on Unfair Union Tactics
On Wednesday, May 22, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, chaired by Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), will hold a hearing titled “Big Labor Lies: Exposing Union Tactics to Undermine Free and Fair Elections.” In the Subcommittee’s press release announcing the hearing, Rep. Good specified how union leaders use unfair practices, including corporate campaigns, neutrality agreements, and “salting” to pressure and mislead employers into joining unions. In 2023, Rep. Good introduced legislation that would amend the Labor Management Relations Act to prohibit neutrality agreements.
The optimistic outlook from House Republican members was dampened following the release of a new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) last week that found extending the 2017 tax cuts could add $3.3 trillion of dollars to the U.S. deficit over the next decade. In a statement released by the Senate Budget Committee, Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) suggested the CBO’s report should encourage lawmakers to “undo the damage” caused by the 2017 package as well as “fix our corrupted tax code, and have big corporations and the ultra-wealthy begin to pay their fair share.”
Register for Upcoming Webcasts – May 23 and May 30
Join NCA for a pair of upcoming webcasts from our popular webcast series. On Thursday, May 23 at 2pm ET, learn how to effectively develop your club’s marcomm department to increase member satisfaction. Register here.
On Thursday, May 30 at 2pm ET, join labor and employment law experts to learn how the recently issued overtime threshold rule, effective July 1, 2024, will impact clubs and how you can prepare. Register here.