This bill changes the rules for how the federal government awards construction contracts. Right now, when the government funds a construction project, it can require contractors to sign a project labor agreement—basically a deal between workers and contractors about wages, benefits, and working conditions. This bill says the government can't do that anymore. It also says the government can't punish contractors who refuse to sign these agreements or give special preference to those who do. In other words, whether a contractor agrees to a project labor agreement shouldn't affect their chances of winning a federal construction contract. The only exceptions are emergencies—if there's an immediate threat to public safety or national security, the government can still require these agreements if needed. This affects construction companies bidding on federal projects and the workers on those projects, since it removes one tool the government previously used to set labor standards on federally-funded construction.

FOCA Act

Young, Todd

Fair and Open Competition Act or the FOCA Act This bill prohibits federal construction contracts or controlling documents for federally supported construction projects from requiring or prohibiting project labor agreements. Such documents also may not discriminate against or give preference to a bidder or contractor who signs or refuses to sign a project labor agreement. An agency may exempt a project from this prohibition to avert an imminent threat to public health or safety or to serve the national security.