WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution in response to the Biden administration’s regulation of federal construction contracts that requires the use of unionized labor for large-scale projects through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies.
Congressman Higgins addressed the issue with Jason Miller, Deputy Director for the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), during a House Oversight Committee hearing today. Congressman Higgins slammed the Biden administration’s regulatory mandate as sending billions of taxpayer dollars to labor unions while injuring the competitive bidding process for federal construction projects.
Watch the exchange here.
Last year, the Biden administration published a regulation that requires project labor agreements (PLAs), which are collective bargaining arrangements between contractors and labor unions, for any federal construction contract that exceeds $35 million. This rule applies to construction projects through the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the General Service Administration (GSA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This rule contradicts Louisiana’s right-to-work protections as well as those of 23 other states, destroys competition amongst bidders, delays project completion, and ultimately increases federal construction costs for taxpayers.
The Congressional Review Act is a process by which Congress can express disapproval of an executive branch decision. If Congress garners enough support in both the House and the Senate to approve the resolution, then they can send the resolution to rescind the rule to the President’s desk.
“Since coming to Congress, my office has prioritized pro-growth economic policies that help bring prosperity to South Louisiana,” said Congressman Higgins. “The Biden administration’s regulatory mandate on federal construction contracts undermines free and fair competition and is in violation of Louisiana’s Right to Work law. My legislation overturns that rule and continues to protect the people of our state and this great nation.”
Read the full resolution here.
