Biden Stimulus Plan Pushes Costly Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
On March 31, the Biden administration released the American Jobs Plan, which proposes more than $2 trillion in federal spending over the next eight years to improve the nation’s infrastructure, including investments in transportation, broadband, energy, and drinking water as well as funding for schools and child-care facilities, affordable housing, workforce development and manufacturing. Of […]
Taxpayer Bailout of Multiemployer Pension Plans and Government-mandated Project Labor Agreements
On March 11, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) into law, including a controversial provision providing a Congressional Budget Office-estimated $86 billion taxpayer bailout of struggling multiemployer pension plans. The COVID-19 relief bill’s sudden bailout of some MEPPs has been disheartening to some small businesses and firms not affiliated […]
Diverse Coalition Supports Fair and Open Competition Legislation, Opposes Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
ABC and a diverse coalition of 17 construction industry and business associations sent a letter to the U.S. House and Senate in strong support of the Fair and Open Competition Act (H.R. 1284/S. 403), which was introduced Feb. 24 by Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.). An ABC Feb. 24 ABC press release applauded the introduction […]
February 2021 Update: ABC’s Fight Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
Among the many anticipated policy changes that will impact the construction industry following the November 2020 elections, the Biden administration and the 117th Congress are likely to attempt to enhance and expand the federal government’s current controversial policy of promoting costly government-mandated project labor agreements on taxpayer-funded construction projects. Doing so would create a rigged […]
Coalition to Senate: Cosponsor Bill Restricting Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
A diverse coalition of construction industry associations and employer groups sent a letter to the United States Senate March 14 opposing government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) and anti-competitive PLA preferences used by federal agencies as a result of President Obama’s pro-PLA Executive Order 13502 and related regulations. The letter asks Senators to cosponsor the Fair and Open Competition Act (S. 622), introduced in the 115thCongress […]
ABC Backs Bill Targeting Costly Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreement Schemes
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) issued a press release in support of Sen. Jeff Flake’s (R-Ariz.) Fair and Open Competition Act (FOCA) (S. 622). As described in the press release below and in Senator Flake’s press release, S. 622 will prohibit federal agencies and recipients of federal funding from mandating project labor agreements (PLAs) or using PLA preferences during […]
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Passes The Government Neutrality in Contracting Act
Today the merit shop contracting community hit an important legislative milestone in its campaign for fair and open competition in government contracting. ABC issued a press release today applauding the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for passing the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act (H.R. 1671), introduced by Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.). With nearly 100 cosponsors and […]
Coalition to Congress: Cosponsor Bill Restricting Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
A diverse coalition of construction industry associations and employer groups sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives April 13 opposing government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) and anti-competitive PLA preferences used by federal agencies as a result of President Obama’s pro-PLA Executive Order 13502 and related regulations. The letter asks lawmakers to cosponsor the Government Neutrality […]
ABC Supports Federal Legislation Restricting Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements in 114th Congress
Today, ABC issued a press release in support of the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act (H.R. 1671/S. 71). It is an important piece of legislation introduced by Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) and Sen David Vitter (R-La.), and supported by the contracting community and TheTruthAboutPLAs.com. The measure prohibits federal agencies from requiring or prohibiting contractors to execute […]
Victory: The U.S. Senate Opposes Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements
Vote-A-Rama, the U.S. Senate’s annual version of March Madness, gives senators a chance to offer unlimited amendments and votes to the Senate’s budget resolution. Traditionally, senators seek proxy votes on a variety of legislative priorities, and try to put their counterparts across the aisle into some difficult political positions. Today, for the first time ever, the U.S. Senate passed […]