Sanford Bishop: “Davis-Bacon is a pretty simple concept and a fair one. What the Davis-Bacon Act does is protect the government, as well…”

“Davis-Bacon is a pretty simple concept and a fair one. What the Davis-Bacon Act does is protect the government, as well as the workers, in carrying out the policy of paying decent wages on government contracts. The Davis-Bacon Act requires that workers on federally funded construction projects be paid no less than the wages paid in the community for similar work. It requires that every contract for construction to which the Federal Government is a party in excess of $2,000 contain a provision defining the ``minimum wages'' paid to various classes of laborers and mechanics. Mr. Chairman, the House has taken numerous votes on this issue, and on every vote, this body has voted to maintain Davis-Bacon requirements because it makes good sense, it saves the taxpayers money, and it is useful. Last year, we avoided including divisive language like this, and it is my hope that we stop attacking the working class and defeat the amendment before us today and move on to more important matters. I urge all Members to vote ``no'' on this, as we have repeatedly year after year. At this point, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).”