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Rep. Good Introduces Two Bills to Confront Corrupt Union Bosses

April 12, 2021

WASHINGTON U.S. Representative Bob Good (VA-05) is leading a conservative coalition to stand up to corrupt Union Bosses and the Biden Administration’s radical labor agenda. Rep. Good introduced two bills with the support of Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action for America, and National Right to Work.

H.R. 2218, the Repeal Davis-Bacon Act
Rep. Good introduced H.R. 2218, the Repeal Davis-Bacon Act. This legislation would repeal the Jim Crow era “Davis-Bacon”  law which requires the federal government to pay the “prevailing wage”, which inflates the cost of taxpayer funded construction and infrastructure.

“Without repealing Davis-Bacon theBiden infrastructure plan is a taxpayer funded gift to Big Union Bosses.
It is simple: Davis-Bacon Act drives up prices for taxpayer-funded construction, and eliminates opportunities for hardworking Americans.Congressman Bob Good

“America needs policies that make it easier to build back better, not harder. Davis-Bacon mandates create disadvantages for non-union workers, significantly inflate construction costs at taxpayer expense, and ultimately belong in the past. We applaud Rep. Good for introducing legislation to repeal harmful Davis-Bacon provisions and pave the way for smarter infrastructure in the future.” – Brent Wm. Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Americans for Prosperity

"Wage dictates from bureaucrats to businesses may boost labor unions, but Davis-Bacon's continued existence harms taxpayers. FreedomWorks thanks Congressman Good for leading this effort to repeal the prevailing wage policy that puts Americans on the hook for increased labor costs on federal construction projects." -Adam Brandon, President, FreedomWorks

 "For far too long, the Davis-Bacon Act has continued to empower government bureaucrats to determine market wages for federal contractors to the detriment of U.S. taxpayers and non-unionized American workers. Congressman Good's bill will put a stop to this misguided practice and rein in the costs of highly-inflated government construction projects." - Garrett Bess, Vice President of Government Relations and Communications for Heritage Action for America

“The Davis-Bacon Act is a Jim Crowe relic that that funnels federal project funding to politically-connected union firms at the expense of the 89.2% of American workers who have chosen not to join a union. Repealing Davis-Bacon would empower independent, merit-shop contractors to bid competitively on the projects financed by their own tax dollars. We are proud to stand by Senator Lee and Congressman Good in calling for the elimination of this taxpayer subsidy to Big Labor.” - Greg Mourad, Vice President of the National Right to Work Committee

Prohibit Coercive so-called “Neutrality Agreements” 
Rep Good introduced H.R. 2403, to Prohibit Neutrality Agreements. This legislation would empower employers to contract with employees and labor organizations as they see fit, without being subject to coercive union tactics and smear campaigns commonly associated with so called “neutrality agreements.”

“As someone who worked in a unionized auto factory during college, I saw firsthand the problems unions can create. Unions make American companies less efficient, less profitable, and less competitive, and they cost American jobs. My bill would provide greater fairness and transparency by prohibiting so called “neutrality agreements.” Congressman Bob Good

“American workers and employers both win when everyone can speak openly about issues of mutual concern. In response to current labor laws, this legislation would prevent employers from being forced into so-called agreements that stifle important communication between employers and their own workers about their shared workplace. We thank Rep. Good for his leadership on this needed legislation.” - Brent Wm. Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Americans for Prosperity

"FreedomWorks applauds Congressman Good for his efforts to ban so-called 'neutrality agreements' which, ironically, often force businesses to tip the scales in favor of unionization and negate employees' free choice.  These agreements have no place in our free-market system." - Adam Brandon, President, FreedomWorks

“Neutrality agreements have long been used by union bosses as a tool of coercion. I applaud Congressman Good for introducing legislation that ensures job creators and their workers are not shut out of the conversation when the unionization process occurs.” – Garrett Bess, Vice President of Government Relations and Communications for Heritage Action for America

“For decades, Big Labor has used misnamed ‘neutrality agreements’ to prevent workers from hearing both sides of the story before voting on unionization. This bill would prevent union bosses from being able to demand that employers help turn their own workers over to Big Labor.”- Greg Mourad, Vice President of the National Right to Work Committee


Background: H.R. 2218, the Repeal Davis-Bacon Act  

  • Davis-Bacon Makes Government Infrastructure More Expensive. CBO has estimated that repealing Davis-Bacon would have saved $12 billion on federal spending on construction from 2019-2028. Considering President Biden is pushing a $2 trillion infrastructure plan and Congress is bringing back earmarks, eliminating the artificially inflated cost of federal contracts is the least Congress could do to save some hard-earned taxpayer money. HERE
  • Davis-Bacon Inflates Wages. It requires that subcontractors working on federal contracts be paid the “prevailing wage,” which is an artificial wage set by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor. HERE
  • Davis-Bacon Is A Discriminatory Jim Crow Law. Passed into law in 1931, Davis-Bacon was a conglomeration of many bills introduced  by Representative Robert Bacon of Long Island New York. Bacon had begun introducing bills to regulate wages of government contractors because he intended to eliminate competition in labor for white union laborers from contractors after workers in his district lost a federal contract to build a VA Hospital on Long Island to a firm that employed African Americans from Alabama. HERE

Supporters: Americans for Prosperity, Citizens Against Government Waste, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action for America, and National Right to Work.

Cosponsors: Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-NM), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA),  Rep Jody Hice (R-GA), and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL).

Background: Prohibit Coercive so-called “Neutrality Agreements” 

  • This legislation would empower employers to contract with employees and labor organizations as they see fit, without being subject to coercive union tactics and smear campaigns commonly associated with so called “neutrality agreements.” HERE and HERE.
  • Under the Trump Administration, NRLB Counsel Peter Robb argued that “neutrality agreements” should already be prohibited under the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act as it is an exchange between businesses and unions of “a thing of value.” Sadly, President Biden fired Robb and dropped this litigation. This bill would simply clarify the argument of the Trump Administration and prohibit this predatory union practice. HERE.

Supporters: Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action for America, and National Right to Work.

Original cosponsors: Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX).

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