Recognizing Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter and the many vital contributions merit shop commercial, industrial, and infrastructure construction contractors make to the quality of life of the people of Florida.

Whereas founded in 1968, Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter is recognized as the leader of the merit shop construction industry and one of the oldest organizations representing the commercial construction industry in Florida for 55 years; Whereas Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter is a member of a national association that is proud to represent over 22,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms with 2,000,000 employees; Whereas Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter is the single largest provider of apprenticeship education in the State of Florida, educating nearly 700 apprentices annually; Whereas the mission of Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter is the advancement of the merit shop construction philosophy, which encourages open competition and a free-enterprise approach that awards construction contracts based solely on merit, regardless of labor affiliation; Whereas Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter represents the profession responsible for the construction of commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects such as schools, hospitals, office buildings, sports venues, factories, energy production plants, water systems, waste disposal and treatment facilities, roads, bridges, and other public and private facilities that are the foundation on which the economy of Florida stands and grows; Whereas Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter activities include government representation, legal advocacy, communications, education and training, construction safety programs, technology, recognition through national and chapter awards programs, employee benefits, and business development; and Whereas members of Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter set the industry standard for producing cost-effective, high-quality construction by highly trained workers that benefit the general public: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter, through its education trust, is building tomorrow by recruiting, educating, and training approximately 8,500 skilled workers in the past decade who drive the construction industry forward with the merit shop principles of free enterprise and open competition, for the betterment of the individual, the construction industry, and the Nation; (2) recognizes Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter, through its education trust, is the largest single provider of apprenticeship education in the State of Florida, offering Electrical (4yr), Fire Sprinkler (4yr), HVAC (4yr), Line Erector (3yr), Pipe Fitting (4yr), Plumbing (4yr), and Roofing (2yr) programs free to apprentices, while they earn a living wage, according to a progressive pay scale tied to educational achievement, including on-the-job training; while incurring no student debt. Apprentices participating in construction apprenticeship programs will meet State and Federal standards before completing their journeyman certification and earn an estimated wage of $59,000 to $73,000; and (3) encourages Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter to continue its 45-year commitment to representing the merit shop construction industry.

Summary: This resolution recognizes the Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter, a trade association representing the merit shop (generally nonunion) construction industry.