U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Todd Young Introduce Legislation to Increase Competition in Government Contracting, Protect Taxpayer Dollars
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and 12 of their Senate Republican colleagues in reintroducing the Fair and Open Competition Act (FOCA), which would prevent the federal government from mandating project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal projects funded by taxpayers.
“Federal contracts should be awarded based on merit, not special interests. Project labor agreements are not only costly, but also discourage qualified contractors to compete, all at the expense of hardworking taxpayers and small businesses,” said Senator Britt. “I’m proud to support legislation that will increase competition, drive down costs, and save taxpayer dollars to ensure federal projects are completed efficiently and effectively.”
This legislation would provide more opportunities to bid on government work, increase workforce competition, lower government construction costs, and save taxpayer dollars. Senator Britt also cosponsored the Fair and Open Competition Act in the 118th Congress. Read the full text of the legislation here.
“The Fair and Open Competition Act is pro-worker legislation that will restore competition in the construction industry, protect Hoosier workers from discriminatory contracts, and lower costs for taxpayers,” said Senator Young. “Growing up with a dad who ran a small business and around family members and close friends who were union members, I appreciate what everyone brings to the table. This bill strikes the right balance to ensure various contractors can bid on these projects on their own merits.”
Alabama is one of 24 states with state-level laws prohibiting government-mandated PLAs on state, state-assisted and local construction projects, depending on the scope of their law.
Senator Britt is also a proud cosponsor of the National Right to Work Act. On introduction this Congress, she stated, “After four years of wages failing to keep up with inflation under the Biden-Harris Administration, Republicans are putting American workers first. The National Right to Work Act would protect Americans from being forced to hand over part of their hard-earned paycheck to a union they didn’t choose to join.”
Alabama has been a right to work state since 1953. In 2016, Alabama voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional right to work amendment. The full text of the National Right to Work Act can be viewed here.
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