[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.
____________________