Greenlighting Large-Scale Offshore Wind ProjectThe country’s first large-scale offshore wind project is moving forward, the Biden administration announced with its approval on May 11. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo were joined at the announcement event by labor leaders who have been working to ensure that the project is built and maintained by union labor.  |
Labor Sec. Walsh Meets with Union Members Promote Infrastructure PlanLabor Secretary Marty Walsh traveled to Wisconsin on May 25 to meet with unions and business leaders and boost the American Jobs Plan. The subject of bipartisan negotiations on Capitol Hill, the AJP is a proposed investment in the country’s infrastructure and transportation system that will put hundreds of thousands of Americans to work, many in the IBEW’s core sectors. Walsh was joined by Rep. Ron Kind.
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Achieve Clean Energy Goals, Maintain the Nation’s Nuclear FleetDepartment of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm reiterated the administration’s commitment to nuclear power at a recent House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee hearing. In response to a question from Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois, Granholm said the country’s 93 nuclear reactors account for 52 percent of carbon-free electricity generation.  |
Getting Another Public Shoutout from President BidenBuilding America Back Better Biden's Agenda is Working for the IBEW How President Biden’s actions benefit working families and IBEW members President Biden toured the Ford electric F-150 plant in Michigan on May 18, highlighting his American Jobs Plan and the importance of remaking auto manufacturing to help curb climate change.
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Fulfilling a Critical Campaign Promise on InfrastructurePresident Biden promised to put America back to work. On March 31, he shared his plan to deliver, with a historic $2 trillion package to rebuild a diminished infrastructure, battle climate change and take on global competitors.
The eight-year proposal will put the United States on the path to a revitalized domestic infrastructure while creating tens of thousands of jobs in several of the IBEW’s core sectors. Biden’s plan will:
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A New Era at the Department of LaborFormer Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was sworn in as U.S. labor secretary on March 23, the first union member in 45 years to lead the Department of Labor. Eighteen Republican senators joined all Democrats to support Walsh’s nomination, voting 68-29 to confirm him. "I spent my entire career fighting for working people, and I'm eager to continue that fight in Washington,” Walsh said.  |
Helping America Dig out from Under the Pandemic: ‘Shots in Arms, Money in Pockets’President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan on March 12, sending more stimulus checks, helping vaccine distribution and re-opening schools. (The plan also included a fix for multiemployer pension plans, which you can read more about below.) These measures have helped individuals, states and communities recover from the year- long pandemic.
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Advocating for Fairer Labor LawsThe House of Representatives passed the most significant potential change to labor law in more than 70 years on March 9. The Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, passed 225-206, with the support of all but a single Democrat – 213 had sponsored the bill – and five of 211 Republicans.  |
Dismissing EEOC Trump-Appointed LawyerThe Biden administration fired Equal Opportunity Employment Commission general counsel Sharon Gustafson in early March after she refused to step down. |
President Signs the Butch Lewis Act: A Key IBEW VictoryPresident Biden has signed the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act, one of the IBEW’s biggest legislative priorities.
With Biden’s signature, help is on the way for troubled pension plans and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. The new law also provides temporary relief for single and multiemployer plans in good standing, including IBEW plans like the National Electrical Benefit Fund. It accomplishes this with no reductions in benefits for participants.
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