Virginia Foxx: “Davis-Bacon stifles competition and discourages small and minority- owned businesses. Small business owners often do not…”

“Davis-Bacon stifles competition and discourages small and minority- owned businesses. Small business owners often do not have the financial resources to bid on or win Davis-Bacon contracts. These restrictions mean less infrastructure and fewer jobs in America, but more jobs and higher pay only for union members, concentrating wealth in the hands of the few while many Americans are out of work. That is something our colleagues seem to be opposed to in every other situation. Suspending this mandate would make each public construction dollar go at least 10 percent further. This would create more bridges and buildings at the same cost to taxpayers. It would also employ hundreds of thousands more construction workers. Repealing these restrictions would allow the government to build more infrastructure and create 155,000 more construction-related jobs at the same cost to taxpayers. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I would like to inquire as to the time left on either side. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Oregon has 8\1/4\ minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from North Carolina has 7\1/2\ minutes remaining. Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. I stand corrected. There are three categories out of 50 that get more than $20 an hour. Blaster. Do you want a blaster that earns $7.25 an hour? I don't think so. That might not be too good.…”