Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement today opposing an amendment that would cut pay for workers on federally-funded public works projects. Larsen said he stands with workers and will vote against the amendment that undermines the Davis-Bacon Act requirement that federal contractors pay local prevailing wages.

“For more than 75 years, the Davis-Bacon Act has been protecting middle class families and taxpayers. As a son of a union worker in Snohomish County, I know how important prevailing wages can be for middle class families.

“A prevailing wage is not necessarily a union wage – it is set by the U.S. Department of Labor after surveying local labor. But it is a living wage, one that has helped build middle class economies in places like Everett and Lynnwood.

“Davis-Bacon standards also ensure that taxpayers are getting their money’s worth when it comes to construction projects. By paying a decent wage, Davis-Bacon projects are built by more experienced and more productive construction workers. The result is better built, longer lasting projects that save money over their lifetime, which is important because poor and crumbling infrastructure hurts everyone.

“We should not cut corners when it comes to our transportation infrastructure, and we should not cut corners when it comes to hiring construction workers. Workers deserve to be paid fair wages, and I will continue my longstanding support for the Davis-Bacon Act,” Larsen said.

The amendment would apply to funding for construction projects in H.R. 22, the DRIVE Act, a surface transportation bill that the U.S. House is currently debating.

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