ABC Backs Pro-Growth Policies, Opposes Project Labor Agreement Mandate in State of the Union Response

WASHINGTON — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) responded to President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address by urging policy changes affecting federal contracting, workforce development, and construction industry growth.

In a Feb. 24 statement, ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman said the organization supports the president’s focus on economic growth, worker opportunity, and affordability. The construction industry employs more than 8.3 million people and contributes more than $2 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, according to the association.

The organization called on the administration to restore what it described as government neutrality in federal contracting by reversing former President Joe Biden’s project labor agreement mandate. ABC cited recent federal data showing that nearly 89% of the U.S. construction workforce is not unionized and said policies should reflect current workforce composition.

The group also pointed to recent federal actions it believes could affect construction employers, including tax legislation known as the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation, or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, permitting reform efforts and changes to the Waters of the United States rule. According to ABC, a new majority on the National Labor Relations Board could bring a more balanced approach to labor law.

At the same time, the association said the construction industry continues to face numberous challenges. ABC urged federal policymakers to adopt pro-growth measures that support contractors and help address housing, infrastructure, and energy affordability.

“While resilient, the construction industry faces ongoing headwinds from high costs, tariff uncertainty, and a chronic workforce shortage," Bellaman said. "As these concerns mount, the president should note that this industry is key to achieving his promises to lower the cost of housing, infrastructure and energy for American families. ABC urges the president to create the conditions for contractors to thrive with pro-growth policies so that he can deliver on his affordability promise to the American people."

Moving forward, ABC called for the creation of a new market-based construction worker visa program tied to documented demand rather than a numerical cap.

“Looking ahead, ABC encourages continued action on policies critical to the future of the industry’s workforce, including advancing a new market-based worker visa program that supports American workers, strengthens national security and protections for taxpayers, and helps communities build what we need," Bellaman added. "This new program would tie construction worker visas to documented demand rather than an arbitrary numerical cap, an approach that reflects economic reality and provides stability for workers, employers and communities. While ABC supports strong enforcement of immigration laws, enforcing the law and meeting workforce needs are not mutually exclusive goals. Other critical priorities include passing the Fair and Open Competition Act to prohibit government-mandated project labor agreements and expanding proactive, industry-driven apprenticeship and workforce development programs that align with industry needs.”

Note: This piece was created with the help of generative AI tools and edited by our content team for clarity and accuracy.