# Plain Language Summary: Davis-Bacon Repeal Act

This bill would eliminate the Davis-Bacon Act, a federal law that has been in place since 1931. That law requires contractors working on federal construction projects to pay workers the "prevailing wage"—essentially the average wage that workers in that trade earn in their local area. If a construction worker typically makes $50 an hour in your region, a contractor doing federal work would have to pay at least that amount, even if they could hire someone for less elsewhere.

If this bill passes, federal contractors would no longer be required to pay these prevailing wages. This means they could potentially pay workers significantly less than the current local standard for federal projects. Supporters of the bill argue this would reduce costs on federal construction projects, potentially saving taxpayer money. However, opponents worry it would lower wages for construction workers, electricians, plumbers, and other skilled trades people who work on federal projects like building schools, highways, and government buildings.

The practical impact would be most noticeable for construction workers and their families. Workers on federal projects could see their paychecks shrink if contractors can legally pay below the prevailing wage. On the flip side, taxpayers might see lower bids on federal construction projects, though it's unclear how much actual savings would reach taxpayers versus simply increasing contractor profits. States and local governments that have their own prevailing wage laws wouldn't be directly affected by this federal repeal, though federal projects within those states would be exempt from state requirements if this passes.

Davis-Bacon Repeal Act

Lee, Mike

Davis-Bacon Repeal Act This bill repeals the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires that the locally prevailing wage rate be paid to various classes of laborers and mechanics working under federally-financed or federally-assisted contracts for construction, alteration, and repair of public buildings or public works. References in any law to a requirement under the Davis-Bacon Act shall be null and void.