[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 158 (Thursday, October 12, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1936-E1937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DAVIS-BACON: REFORM, NOT REPEAL

                                 ______


                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 1995

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I am today introducing, 
along with 19 of my colleagues, the Davis-Bacon Act Reform 

[[Page E 1937]]
Amendments of 1995. This is a companion bill to S. 1183, introduced by 
Senator Hatfield in the other body.
  The Davis-Bacon Act is an important protection for many working 
families in our country. Davis-Bacon requires contractors to pay the 
locally prevailing wage on Federal construction and repair contracts. 
The law seeks to level the playing field without undermining local 
economies and local employment practices.
  Repeal of Davis-Bacon would reduce the standard of living for many 
working families and force contractors to discontinue training 
programs, health care, and pensions for their workers. With the result, 
I might add, that the Federal Government would face the costs of taking 
over training, paying for indigent health care for workers, and 
possibly bailing out failed pension plans.
  This bill represents an alternative to repeal. We recognize that the 
threshold triggering Davis-Bacon coverage of contracts has not been 
adjusted since it was set at $2,000 in the 1930's. This bill raises the 
threshold to $100,000 for new construction and $25,000 for renovation 
and repair contracts, and would adjust the threshold annually for 
inflation.
  This bill also prohibits contract splitting to avoid Davis-Bacon 
coverage, enhances enforcement of the Act, makes provision for the use 
of helpers, and makes other changes in the law to clarify the scope of 
coverage of Davis-Bacon.
  Our bill is identical to S. 1183 with two exceptions. As I mentioned, 
we would adjust for inflation annually. S. 1183 makes that adjustment 
every 5 years.
  In addition, S. 1183 replaces the current weekly payroll reporting 
requirement with a monthly requirement. Our bill requires payroll 
reports every 3 months, or quarterly.
  I believe these modifications strengthen our version of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, we introduce this bill to reform Davis-Bacon in the 
hopes of expanding the range of options to be considered by the House 
and to expand the debate beyond repeal versus the status quo. This bill 
was worked out as a compromise between labor and a coalition of over 
14,000 contractors in all 50 States. We hope that what comes out of 
this process is a reform of Davis-Bacon that all sides can live with.

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