[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 82 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H5983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1600
                      REBUILDING IN OKLAHOMA CITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Lucas] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, I addressed the 
House about a situation very important to the rebuilding efforts in 
Oklahoma City following last year's bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah 
Federal Building. Eight days later, the clock continues to tick, and 
money desperately needed by the people of Oklahoma City continues to 
not be fully utilized for disaster relief purposes.
  I am here today to remind the President that he, and he alone, has 
the statutory authority to follow up on his declaration of the bombing 
as a national emergency, by suspending the Davis-Bacon Act for these 
funds. I stress the word ``remind'' because I have already sent him two 
letters on this subject, and this is now my second speech on the floor 
of the House. The President witnessed first hand the devastating 
destruction caused by the bombing and had the chance this past April to 
see how little progress has been made in rebuilding Oklahoma City 
despite enactment of the $39 million in CDBG funds last July.
  If the President agrees with me that the people of Oklahoma City 
should be able to fully utilize the funds we granted them, then he 
should agree to suspend the Davis-Bacon Act and treat this situation as 
nearly all other disasters and emergencies have historically been 
treated. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act, as utilized by FEMA, makes no mention of Davis-Bacon, 
meaning that these requirements do not apply to FEMA funds. Oklahoma 
City should not be treated any differently. As long as small 
contractors are forced to spend more time filling out paperwork and 
computing the correct wages than actually completing their job, this 
goal cannot be accomplished. Every dollar that is spent in excess of 
original estimates due to Davis-Bacon, is a dollar that is essentially 
taken away from the rebuilding efforts.
  Mr. President, as you know, this can all be resolved today. By 
stating that you intend to suspend Davis-Bacon for these DCBG funds, 
you will be siding with the people of Oklahoma City who are working 
hard to rebuild their city despite all obstacles. We should all be 
doing everything we can to make their job easier. In fact, I believe 
that the Federal role in disasters such as this is to empower the 
communities affected. The national response to Oklahoma City after the 
bombing was truly special, and I am forever indebted to all those who 
acted quickly to assist Oklahoma City. Now, I believe we must continue 
this cooperation and suspend Davis-Bacon so that the relief efforts are 
not hindered and so that Federal relief funds are not taken away from 
those attempting to rebuild this great city.
  Despite your silence on this matter, Mr. President, I trust that you 
too want these funds to be properly used, and I sincerely hope that you 
will take the necessary action to ensure this.
  At this time, I ask unanimous consent to enter into the Record a 
letter from Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, and the mayor of Oklahoma 
City, Ronald Norick, supporting my efforts and urging the President to 
use his authority to suspend Davis-Bacon.


                                    The City of Oklahoma City,

                                                     June 5, 1996.
     Hon. William J. Clinton,
     President of the United States, The White House, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Mr. President: Congressman Frank Lucas recently made a 
     request on behalf of The City of Oklahoma City for further 
     assistance in rebuilding our community after the bombing of 
     the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The request was for a 
     suspension of the Davis-Bacon Act requirements as it relates 
     to the CDBG funding for bombing relief.
       As you know, the damage to our city was extensive and 
     recovery efforts are in the early stages. We must maximize 
     the relief funds provided to Oklahoma City in order to 
     rebuild the north area of downtown. You could save our 
     community some $15 million by suspending the Davis-Bacon wage 
     rates for the federal funds we received for this disaster. 
     This $15 million could be used to provide additional 
     assistance to those impacted by the bombing and to further 
     rebuild the area around the Murrah site. (Specific examples 
     of savings were included with the request from Congressman 
     Lucas.)
       We realize you have the authority to suspend the Davis-
     Bacon Act's requirements in times of national emergency, and 
     on April 19, 1995, you declared a national emergency for 
     Oklahoma City. This tragedy continues to be a national 
     emergency in Oklahoma City, and the impact on our local 
     economy is much greater than we originally estimated.
       Your support of Oklahoma City and assistance with the 
     revitalization of the bombing area is greatly appreciated. We 
     hope you will seriously consider this request and continue to 
     help us as we rebuild our community following last year's 
     tragedy. Thank you for your attention to this issue.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Ronald J. Norick,
     Mayor.
                                                                    ____

                                                State of Oklahoma,


                                       Office of the Governor,

                                                     May 28, 1996.
     Hon. William J. Clinton,
     President of the United States, The White House, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear President Clinton, I am pleased to write in full 
     support of the request Congressman Frank Lucas has made 
     regarding executive suspension of Davis-Bacon Act provisions 
     in connection with CDBG funding to restore bomb damage to our 
     community. As Congressman Lucas notes, there is precedent for 
     such action, and I would encourage you to move swiftly and 
     positively in response to the initial request made by the 
     City of Oklahoma City.
       As we discussed during your visit to the bomb site in 
     April, much remains to be done to restore property in the 
     downtown Oklahoma City area. The available funds will do more 
     good if contractors are exempt from Davis-Bacon provisions. 
     It is vital that every possible dime of these funds flow 
     directly to property repairs and restoration, since many of 
     the business properties awaiting repairs are also significant 
     employers in the downtown area. The more we can accomplish 
     with the funds, the quicker will be Oklahoma City's return to 
     economic health.
       I appreciate your attention to this important issue.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank Keating,
     Governor.

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