[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H1797-H1798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, the American people are best served by 
open competition, whether for goods, services, or for construction. 
This has always led to lower costs, higher quality, innovation, and 
efficiency.
  The Executive order of President Clinton that he has promised his 
important labor friends ignores all these principles and imposes a near 
monopoly on the source of construction labor. Under union-only 
contracts Federal work would be restricted to a small minority of the 
work force that is unionized and would deny work to the majority of 
workers who, for religious, economic, or other personal reasons, choose 
not to work under union control.

[[Page H1798]]

  Mr. Speaker, I urge the President to reject the calls from one narrow 
interest group for favoritism and to support fair and open competition. 
Imposing this discriminatory Executive order would be a disservice to 
working men and women, to the American taxpayer, and to the economy.

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