House Subcommittee Hearing Examines New OFCCP Actions

The House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing on Wednesday to discuss recent Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) rules and other initiatives affecting federal contractors, subcontractors, and healthcare providers.  Notably, the OFCCP recently issued its final revised affirmative action rules for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Among other requirements, these rules set hiring benchmarks for veterans, and a 7% utilization goal for employment of qualified individuals with disabilities for each of the job groups established in the contractor's women and minorities' affirmative action plans.

In addition, the Subcommittee also examined the role the OFCCP has taken in actively trying to extend its jurisdiction to healthcare providers based on the theory that providers participating in, and receiving more than $50,000 in reimbursement from, the Department of Defense's (DOD) TRICARE program render them federal government subcontractors subject to the agency's regulations.    

Healthcare Provider Issue

In response to perceived jurisdictional overreach by the OFCCP, Subcommittee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) on December 3 introduced the Protecting Health Care Providers from Increased Administrative Burdens Act (H.R. 3633), a bill that would prevent the OFCCP from asserting jurisdiction over healthcare providers based on their federal health program participation. Continue reading this entry at Littler's DC Employment Law Update.

Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.