[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H1746-H1747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   IN DEFENSE OF THE DAVIS-BACON ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Rhode Island [Mr. Kennedy] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of a bill 
that has saved money for U.S. taxpayers and has expanded economic 
opportunity for millions of Americans. In short, a bill that has been 
the key for securing the American dream for thousands of working 
families for more than 60 years.
  I join a long, bipartisan list of supporters who have come out in 
favor of this act. In fact, the original sponsors were two Republicans. 
The President who signed the bill into law was a Republican. And since 
its birth, Republicans including Ronald Reagan have supported this act.
  [[Page H1747]] But today it is under fire, and I am proud to come to 
the defense of an excellent piece of Republican legislation--the Davis-
Bacon Act.
  To be sure, the time has come to update and reform this venerable 
act. But in no way has the time come for us to abandon an act which has 
so admirably fulfilled its mission of benefiting America.
  What, exactly, does Davis-Bacon do? The reality is often obscured by 
the rhetoric of those who wish to abolish the act. The act does nothing 
more than say that for Federal contracts, contractors must pay workers 
the prevailing wages for their local area.
  Contrary to what some on the other side say, this law does not 
require all workers to be paid prevailing wage. Those who are enrolled 
in a recognized apprentice program, receive a training wage that can be 
as low as 40 percent of the prevailing wage.
  Davis-Bacon ensures that when the Federal Government comes into our 
districts, that cut-rate, low-wage, low-skill contractors do not take 
the jobs that should rightfully go to our constituents. Outrage over 
such occurrences is what impelled the Republican legislators who 
created this bill to draft their legislation.
  In fact, Davis-Bacon recognized we had fly-by-night contractors 
coming into New England from other parts of the country stealing jobs 
away from the local economy. We are talking about making sure that when 
the Government contracts for a building, taxpayers get a quality 
product, and that will only happen if we hire quality labor.
  Some argue that Davis-Bacon drives up the cost of Federal projects. 
Those who make such an argument are not looking closely at the crucial 
question of productivity. A well-trained worker simply produces more 
each hour than does an ill-trained, poorly paid worker.
  This act simply guarantees taxpayers that their tax dollars will go 
to the best workers, not to the cheapest. That their tax dollars will 
go to open opportunity, not to shut people out of opportunity. That 
workers of all ages and races will have an avenue into the middle 
class, and not have the road to progress blocked.
  Remember, we are talking about workers and working families in our 
districts. We are talking about middle-class families trying to stay 
independent. We are not talking about extravagant paychecks here. We 
are simply talking about paying people a living wage.
  For a bricklayer or stonemason from Woonsocket, RI the prevailing 
wage for building construction is $19.90 an hour. Considering the state 
of our economy and the weather in Rhode Island, a bricklayer from 
Woonsocket would be lucky to work 30 weeks a year, or about 1,200 hours 
a year, for a total of $23,880 a year. That's it. Nothing more.
  For a bricklayer or stonemason from Bristol working on highway 
construction the prevailing hourly wage is $18.35. Once again, at 30 
weeks a year this comes out to just over $22,000 a year.
  For a bridge construction project in East Providence, the operator of 
a forklift would be paid $17.34 or $20,808 a year.
  For a welding machine operator from Providence working on a sewer 
line project, Davis-Bacon means being paid $14.62 an hour or $17,544.
  What does the Republican Party have against paying a worker $17,544 a 
year? Mr. Speaker, how can a Congress that is talking about valuing 
work, that is talking about helping the middle class, propose the 
elimination of Davis-Bacon?
  I urge my colleagues to look closely at this issue, to listen 
carefully to their constituents who are worried about economic 
insecurity, and ask themselves if pulling away this support for people 
makes families more secure? A careful look will show that repealing 
Davis-Bacon will put people in danger of slipping back, of losing 
ground, of losing hope.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in saving Davis-Bacon.
  

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