Senator John Thune (R-SD) has agreed to introduce a bill to repeal the death tax. The legislation will be introduced next week and will mirror PHCC-supported legislation in the House that seeks to repeal the death tax. The House version of the legislation has over 200 cosponsors. PHCC National will keep members up-to-date as the death tax repeal legislation works its way through Congress.

Conditions seem to be improving for new construction plumbing and mechanical contractors, members of the Construction Contractors’ Alliance (CCA) report. During a “Business Solutions” segment of the recent CCA meeting in Charlotte, N.C., members indicated that after concentrating on realigning their businesses during the downturn, they are now preparing for an upturn. That is positive news to hear in this ever-changing economic environment.

FAPHCC is offering its members discounts on ICC 2010 Florida Code Books. Members can save anywhere from $4 - $90 per book. Please visit http://www.faphcc.com/ICC-Code-Books.html to order your books online today. Don't forget the new code goes into effect March 15th, 2012.

According to a new report from the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the cost of replacing and expanding the aging U.S. water infrastructure will top $1 trillion over the next 25 years. AWWA warns that postponing these repairs now will ultimately "raise the overall cost and increase the likelihood of water main breaks and other infrastructure failures."

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency Kathleen Hogan recently sent a letter to Capitol Hill regarding Congressional support of PHCC’s concerns over workforce guidelines for the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Congresswoman Sue Myrick (R-NC) received the response to their letter and PHCC is holding meetings on Capitol Hill to discuss further action. PHCC raised the concerns over the WAP program and continues to investigate any potential negative impacts the program would have on PHCC members.v

Space Coast Energy Consortium Annual Energy Symposium
February 15 – 16, 2012

Want to attend the Symposium and can’t be there in person? Three sessions from the event will now air live over the Internet. Sign-in for all here: http://www.energysmartplanning.org/Webinars.html (registration-waived) -- or you can still attend in-person at the Florida Solar Energy Center. The sessions accessible online are:

Session #1: Exploiting International Clean Energy Options
February 15, Wednesday, 9:30 - 10:30 AM

Session #2: Federal-Grants Supporting Regional Energy Industry Development in Florida
February 15, Wednesday, 11:00 - 11:45 AM

Session #3: Local Energy-Finance and Market-Opportunities
February 16, Thursday, 10:30 -11:45 AM

Thanks to the Future Is Now Foundation for hosting the online access … as a service of the Smart Planning for a Green Future initiative sponsored by the Future Is Now Foundation & 1000 Friends of Florida. For information on their other complimentary energy events online, see www.EnergySmartPlanning.org.

Did you know that 88 percent of executives report that employees are using their personal devices for business purposes? The research community is flooded with similar data about the rise of mobile computing in the workplace. Check out Fast Company's comprehensive round-up of recent technology studies to make sense of new trends and expectations.

Successful new drilling techniques have increased U.S. oil and gas production for the first time in decades, which in turn has generated over 150,000 jobs within the energy industry alone. Additionally, the resulting decline in natural gas prices—the lowest in 10 years—energizes manufacturing industries like steel and plastics.

Register by Friday, Feb. 17 to qualify for a reduced hotel rate at QSC Power Meeting XXXVI at the Westin Charlotte Hotel, Charlotte, N.C., March 22-24, 2012. Questions? Call Dawn, Patrice, Elina or Charlie at 1-800-533-7694 for more information.

Yesterday President Keith Bienvenu wrote to Representative Cliff Stearns, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, requesting a Congressional hearing to investigate “stimulus” funds that are not being used efficiently or effectively. As reported Monday in USA Today, the Department of Labor is currently under fire for poor management of stimulus funds. PHCC is asking that the investigation include the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). President Bienvenu pointed out that the WAP is well on its way to becoming finalized with little input from industry experts. Click here to review an op-ed article on this subject that will appear in the February edition of Contractor Magazine. v

PHCC will participate in a public meeting on Jan. 18 to discuss the WaterSense's (http://www.epa.gov/watersense/index.html) intent to expand the WaterSense Single-Family New Homes Specification (http://watersense.c.goolara.net/Click.aspx?ID=0-24510486-3509). With this modification, which was announced in October 2011, WaterSense hopes to allow homes constructed in multi-family buildings to earn the first national label for water efficiency. Interested contractors also can call in to join the teleconference. Register here (https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/149113946).

The NLRB has postponed (https://www.nlrb.gov/poster) the date by which employers must put up posters that display information about employee rights. The requirement will now take effect on April 30, 2012, rather than Jan. 31. Among other things, the poster informs employees of their rights to start a union. 

Start the New Year off right with some new training courses for yourself and your employees. The PHCC Educational Foundation is offering 20 percent off all courses in the Virtual University for the month of January. The Virtual University, developed in partnership with 360training.com (http://360training.com), contains a variety of online training courses for contractors and technicians in the subject areas of contractor continuing education; environmental topics; and technical, industrial and safety skills. Among the most popular courses are the OSHA 10- and 30-Hour certification courses. Designed for convenience and affordability, these courses (http://phccweb.360training.com/) are available at all times online. Enter the code "20%OFF" at checkout to receive the discount.