Alabama's two U.S. Senators joined forces this week to send President Donald Trump a letter requesting that his administration rescind the Biden administration’s final rule mandating Project Labor Agreements for federal construction projects.
In December 2023, the Biden administration published in the Federal Register the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council’s final rule, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects. The rule applies to large-scale federal construction projects valued at $35 million and would severely hinder merit-based competition, costing taxpayers billions of dollars annually.
U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) joined a group of 19 other Republican U.S. Senators to push for a "level playing field" for builders and "free market competitiveness based on merit."
"The rulemaking threatens the competitiveness of infrastructure bids, increases construction costs, and delays work on federal construction contracts procured by federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the General Services Administration,” the senators wrote.
“The nation's builders union and nonunion alike deserve a level playing field where the American taxpayer gets the best value for their dollar and our workforce is free from unjust mandates," they added. "We respectfully request that you reverse this Biden administration policy and restore the long-established government neutrality in federal and federally assisted contracting."
“The economic prosperity of American workers relies on free market competitiveness based on merit. We trust in your leadership to safeguard the principles that make our nation strong and look forward to working with you to address these concerns,” they concluded.
The letter, which was led by Britt, was also signed by U.S. Sens. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.Dak.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mike Rounds (R-S.Dak.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), John Hoeven (R-N.Dak.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.).
Read the full letter here.
Tim Harrison, board chairman of Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama, applauded the letter.
“ABC has long fought the Biden Administration’s burdensome, inflationary and anti-competitive PLA mandate rule," Harrison stated. "PLAs negatively impact merit-shop contractors, reduce competition, and increase cost. We’re grateful for Senator Britt’s leadership to advocate for federal contracts to be awarded based on merit to foster competition in the bidding process and ensure federal projects are completed efficiently and effectively.”
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