Political Quotes

“The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations before us will fund a number of vital infrastructure projects, including a facility at Fort Belvoir in my district. Unfortunately, the bill also inextricably contains language that would actually make it more difficult to deliver this and other projects in a safe, cost-efficient manner. In today's cost-constrained environment, we ought to be placing a premium on completing infrastructure projects on time and on budget. We ought to place a premium on creating safe working conditions and good relations between management and labor to achieve those results. Since they were first employed by the Federal Government to help defeat the Germans during World War I, Project Labor Agreements have been used by both the public and private sectors to reduce costs on major infrastructure projects. Iconic American projects like the Hoover Dam, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and Walt Disney World were completed under Project Labor Agreements. Wal-Mart and Toyota have touted the benefits of PLAs, and findings from the GAO and Cornell University show PLAs maximize productivity and minimize risk to yield savings. Right here in the National Capital Region, a PLA for the drawbridge on Woodrow Wilson Bridge helped complete that portion of the project 6 months ahead of schedule. Construction on the Dulles Rail project, which will link our Nation's capital with the premier international airport, also is being performed under a PLA.…”