II 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1763 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 22, 2005 Mrs. Boxer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To promote the employment of workers displaced by Hurricane Katrina in connection with Hurricane Katrina reconstruction efforts.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Hurricane Katrina Reconstruction and Displaced Worker Assistance Act of 2005.

2.

Federal contracting requirement

In entering into a contract to procure services in connection with Hurricane Katrina reconstruction efforts, the head of an executive agency shall give a preference in the source selection process to each offeror that employs workers who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina as not less than 25 percent of the workforce that will perform such services.

3.

Payment of prevailing wages

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding the President's proclamation of September 8, 2005, and any other provision of law, all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in the performance of Federal contracts for the procurement of services in connection with Hurricane Katrina reconstruction efforts shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing for similar work in the locality involved as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code. (b)

Authority

The Secretary Labor shall have, with respect to the labor standards specified in this section, the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (15 Fed. Reg. 3176) and section 3145 of title 40, United States Code.

4.

Executive agency defined

In this Act, the term executive agency has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 403).