U.S. REJECTS ANTI-DAVIS-BACON AMENDMENT

3/13/2009

The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly today to reject an attempt to undermine local community wage standards in the construction industry. Courtesy of the Building & Construction Trades Department.

By a vote of 284-140, the House rejected an amendment by Representative Connie Mack (R-FL) to deny federal Davis-Bacon Act coverage for federal construction work that would be performed in accordance with H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act.  H.R. 1262 is a modest step towards closing the gap on the $390 billion the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates is needed over the next 20 years to make America's wastewater systems clean and safe and help build America.  Davis-Bacon application would ensure the payment of locally prevailing wages on these projects.  35 of the 284 "No" votes were Republican House members.

President Mark Ayers of the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, praised today's action by the House of Representatives.  "The Davis-Bacon Act is designed to protect local construction wage standards by precluding contractors from bidding for Federal contracts on the basis of their ability to hire cheapest, most exploitable labor they can find at wages lower than those prevailing in the area.  We are heartened that a significant, bi-partisan majority in the House of Representatives agrees with us on that important principle."