WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) and Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-1), co-chairs of the Bipartisan Building Trades Caucus, released the following statement on the Biden Administration’s final rule that updates Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) to protect worker wages and ensure that workers on federally-supported construction projects are not left behind:

“This update to the Davis-Bacon Act is great news for the more than 1 million construction workers on federally-supported projects across the country. The changes by President Biden will create pathways to the middle class and ensure a level playing field for workers as we invest in the rebuilding of our nation’s infrastructure. We commend the work of the Department of Labor and Acting Secretary Julie Su in conducting a thorough rule-making process, including a period of public comment, to take this important step to support the building trades. The Administration’s final rule is the most comprehensive update to DRBA in decades and will protect workers in today’s modern economy. In doing so, this rule will put thousands of extra dollars per year in workers pockets, giving them the economic breathing room to not only pay the bills, but also to invest in their future and join the middle class.” 

Background Information

Among other changes to strengthen the DBRA, the rule restores the definition of “prevailing wage” used from 1935 to 1983 to better reflect actual wages paid to workers in local communities and raise pay standards. It also provides for routine updates to prevailing wage rates to ensure that workers’ pay doesn’t lag behind. Additionally, this rule protects America’s workforce with new anti-retaliation provisions.