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NABTU Kicks Off 2017 Legislative Conference

Diverse Array of Speakers Highlight Need for Infrastructure Investments and Strong Community Wage and Benefit Protections; President Trump Slated to Address Conference on April 4

WASHINGTON, DC – North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) convened its annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC April 3 by asserting its intention to mount a forceful campaign in support of infrastructure investments, energy infrastructure and the protection of community wage and benefit protections under the federal Davis-Bacon Act.

Over 3,000 national, state and local building trades leaders from across the United States heard from a host of distinguished guests, including American Electric Power CEO Nicholas Akins; Nuclear Energy Institute President & CEO Maria Korsnick; US Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke; and US Representative Tim Murphy (R-PA).  The opening day session also featured an appearance from Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Democratic Leader of the US Senate.

In his keynote, remarks, NABTU President Sean McGarvey delivered a forceful message imploring the assembled delegates to remain committed to a strategic operational approach that would enable NABTU unions to be fully prepared for expected challenges and opportunities that will directly affect the US construction industry, generally, and the union construction sector, specifically.

“It is in the best economic interests of our members and our unions,” said McGarvey, “for us to go everywhere and anywhere with business and industry leaders, community leaders and political leaders, and to engage in deliberations, conversations and discussions that have the potential to advance the economic interests of our members and their families.”

The 2017 Legislative Conference will continue on Tuesday, April 4 at the Washington Hilton Hotel, and will be highlighted by remarks from President Donald J. Trump.  In addition to President Trump, delegates will hear from Congressional Black Caucus Chair, Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY), Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD), Senator Joseph Donnelly (D-IN), and Representative Peter King (R-NY).

PRESS REPRESENTATIVES WISHNG TO ATTEND THE APRIL 4 SESSION OF THE NABTU 2017 LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE MUST REGISTER WITH NABTU AT ITS PRESS REGISTRATION BOOTH LOCATED ON THE TERRACE LEVEL OF THE WASHINGTON HILTON HOTEL, JUST INSIDE THE “T” STREET ENTRANCE.  THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS.  ENTRANCE WILL ONLY BE GIVEN TO PRESS WEARING OFFICIAL NABTU PRESS CREDENTIALS.

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About North America’s Building Trades Unions

North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) is an alliance of 14 national and international unions that collectively represent over 3 million skilled craft professionals in the United States and Canada.  Together with its signatory contractor partners, NABTU invests over $1.2 billion annually to fund and operate the world’s most successful and admired apprenticeship education and training infrastructure, encompassing over 1,900 training centers across North America.