PLCA

mind as contractors who fulfill obliga- tions in good faith. The PLCA also works to promote cooperative relationships among pipeline contractors. The PLCA also seeks correction of dis- crimination by unfair business methods practiced against pipeline contractors. We encourage our members to work together to build a better industry by sharing best practices when it comes to safety, quality, and environmental stewardship. The PLCA is made up of many com- mittees that follow through on the above-mentioned statement regarding our safety and quality commitment, and also by our training committees that are funded by the PLCA and operated and managed in conjunction with the four unions that are signatory to us. These four unions, who are our business partners, are the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, the International Union of Operating En- gineers, the Laborers International Union Association, and the International Brother- hood of Teamsters. The PLCA members and unions are signatory to an agreement that is called the National Pipeline Agreement. This agreement governs the construction of all mainline gas and/or oil transmission projects constructed by our members. This agreement is managed by the PLCA legal team and its counterparts from the unions. There are many committees that work behind the scenes to ensure that both or- ganizations continue to operate under the principles they are committed to uphold. To sum it all up, the PLCA and our four union partners have an obligation to rep- resent our members in accordance with the National Pipeline Agreement and the labor laws that govern this country, as well as provide a safe working environment, and THE PIPELINE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION work together to provide market share for our members. My role as President of the PLCA is to work with the staff and Board of Directors to verify compliance with the agreements while managing the best inter- ests of the association. We’re over six months into the new administration and finally seeing Wash- ington step up to the needs and demands of the energy business. A focus on ener- gy independence and reliability is now getting the attention it needs. An aging infrastructure that served our nation well through the last several decades needs to be rebuilt. The shale plays within our borders need to be developed and brought to market to give us our independence and serve a growing economy. Although the Trump administration is working on these issues, they need our support to get there. The General Presidents of our four union partners visited the White House shortly after President Trump was sworn into office to address some of the issues like the constant delays in the regulatory process, the importance of getting projects permitted, and putting union members to work. It is efforts like these that make a difference. The unions and their members have worked hard to promote the pipeline industry by making their presence known and attending open houses in support of energy projects. These efforts by the unions, signatory contractors, and owner companies will make us all successful at the end of the day. Let’s face it: whether we like it or not, politics have made it to the forefront of our businesses, and the con- tinuing efforts from the public and political affairs groups have become increasingly important. Enough about politics. Let’s talk about