Sw Louisiana News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) has taken a stand against the Biden administration's regulation of federal construction contracts by introducing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution. This resolution aims to overturn the rule that mandates the use of unionized labor for large-scale projects through federal agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

During a House Oversight Committee hearing, Congressman Higgins expressed his concerns to Jason Miller, Deputy Director for the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), criticizing the regulation for directing billions of taxpayer dollars to labor unions and disrupting the competitive bidding process for federal construction projects.

The Biden administration's rule, implemented last year, requires project labor agreements (PLAs) for federal construction contracts exceeding $35 million. This mandate impacts projects under agencies like the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the General Service Administration (GSA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), contradicting Louisiana's right-to-work protections and hindering competition among bidders.

In response, Congressman Higgins emphasized the importance of economic growth and fair competition, stating, "The Biden administration’s regulatory mandate on federal construction contracts undermines free and fair competition and is in violation of Louisiana’s Right to Work law." He further added, "My legislation overturns that rule and continues to protect the people of our state and this great nation."

The introduction of the CRA resolution signifies a pushback against the executive branch's decision, allowing Congress to express disapproval and potentially rescind the rule if there is enough support in both the House and the Senate. This action aims to safeguard the interests of Louisiana and uphold principles of fair competition in government contracts.