March 22, 2020
The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Majority Leader Speaker of the House of Representatives
United States Senate United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Charles Schumer The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Minority Leader Minority Leader
United States Senate United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
The Construction Employers of America (CEA) represents seven construction employer associations and the more than 1.4 million employees that work for our member contractors. Like so many other U.S. employers, they have been significantly impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak. Our member firms remain committed to completing essential services, advancing critical infrastructure projects and carrying out vital construction activities that provide work opportunities for skilled craftworkers across the country.
As our nation works to address this public health and economic crisis we are facing, we urge government officials at all levels to recognize the essential nature of the construction industry and the vital work it performs. To that end, we urge the federal government to explicitly recognize construction activities as essential to ensure public health and safety during this pandemic and allow our skilled workforce to provide these services. Any federal legislation binding the states and local governments should require that all mandatory quarantine orders include an exemption for “essential infrastructure” that would allow the construction industry to provide emergency and essential services. It is extremely important that our workforce be encouraged to undertake necessary construction, operation and maintenance of a countless variety of critical facilities.
The construction industry builds and maintains critical infrastructure, including vital energy and communication systems, roads and bridges, and social infrastructure, including police, fire and health care facilities. These services are vital and must remain in operation as the nation deals with this public health crisis. While we recognize the important steps many states and local governments are taking to stem the spread of the Coronavirus, it is critical that quarantine orders and mandatory business closures do not inadvertently prevent the construction industry from supporting the public and medical infrastructure necessary to combat this pandemic. The impact of halting construction activities during this crisis will have a severe effect on public safety, national security, as well as our member firms and their highly skilled union workforce.
Again, we thank you for your expedited efforts to ensure the public health and safety of our citizens. The construction industry remains committed to working with you to ensure essential infrastructure and related medical facilities remain available and operational during this crisis.
Sincerely,
The Construction Employers of America
www.constructionemployersofamerica.com
International Council of Employers of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
FCA International
Mechanical Contractors Association of America
National Electrical Contractors Association
Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association
Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Alliance
The Association of Union Constructors