Rokita: Davis-Bacon Implementation Important to Job Growth and Fiscal Responsibility

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, a member of the Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, today issued the following statement at the conclusion of a hearing titled "Promoting the Accuracy and Accountability of the Davis-Bacon Act."

"The accurate implementation of Davis-Bacon is important in restoring American competitiveness, job growth, and fiscal responsibility. Today's hearing only confirms my concerns that the current administration shows little interest in improving the implementation of the Davis-Bacon Act. Congress has a constitutional duty to conduct oversight, and I intend to ensure the application of this law represents an effective use of taxpayer dollars," said Rokita.

Rokita's question of the witnesses focused on the administration of Davis-Bacon survey compliance by the Department of Labor. You can view Rokita's exchange here.

The Davis-Bacon Act, enacted in 1931, requires the payment of local prevailing wages to workers on federal construction projects. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is responsible for conducting surveys to collect wage and benefit information for various job classifications to determine local prevailing wage rates.

Recent independent reports have revealed significant challenges surrounding implementation of the Davis-Bacon Act including widespread problems with the accuracy, quality, impartiality, and timeliness of the surveys used to determine wage rates.

Source