On the recordFebruary 2, 2017
I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for introducing this legislation and sponsoring it. I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 37. We all agree that bad actors who deny workers basic protections and violate the Fair Labor Standards Act should not be rewarded with government contracts funded by taxpayer dollars. However, the Department of Labor's rule effectively blacklists Federal contractors for alleged violations and would require contractors to defend themselves against these allegations without being entitled to a formal hearing. The Federal District Court has already ruled that the Department of Labor rule violates contractors' due process rights. Additionally, this rule is unnecessary because the Department of Labor already has significant oversight and investigation capabilities to assess contractor compliance with Federal labor laws. This rule supersedes agencies' existing authority to hold contractors accountable under the current suspension and disbarment system. My question is why don't they use it? Misguided regulatory policies, like the blacklisting rule, don't stop bad actors, but they do end up adding new layers of redundant bureaucratic red tape, harming employers and older workers, disabled workers, female workers, minority workers, and workers, in general, alike. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution of disapproval and roll back this duplicative and unnecessary rule.
