An amendment authored by Representative Steve King (R-IA) to repeal the Davis-Bacon Act has been made in order during consideration today in the U.S. House of Representatives of the bipartisan House transportation bill – Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (H.R. 3763).
We must defeat this amendment and preserve the Davis-Bacon Act!
Davis-Bacon prevailing wage protections have been a part of federal transportation bills since the 1950s. The Act ensures that “low road” contractors must compete for public works contracts on a level playing field with responsible contractors. The Davis-Bacon Act ensures that these “low road” enterprises cannot win public construction contracts by virtue of lowering workers’ wages in a never-ending race to the bottom.
More importantly, the law supports the quality of life and living standards not only of union skilled crafts people, but all construction workers.
I am asking all state and local building trades councils to immediately mobilize to contact their U.S. representatives and hold them accountable on this crucial issue.
Together, and with a strong vote to defeat this amendment, we can hopefully thwart future anti-worker attacks against this important law.
You can reach your representative’s office by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask your member of Congress to oppose the King amendment that would strip prevailing wage protections from the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (H.R. 3763).