ABC Testifies on Problems with Project Labor Agreements Before House Committee

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Project labor agreements mandated by federal agencies result in increased costs for contractors and taxpayers, unnecessary procurement delays and inject uncertainty and favoritism in the federal procurement process," said Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) member Kirby Wu, president of Wu & Associates, Cherry Hill, N.J. Wu testified today before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform's Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform Subcommittee hearing on "H.R. 735 and Project Labor Agreements: Restoring Competition and Neutrality to Government Construction Projects."

"Our company and other quality small businesses, general contractors, subcontractors and their skilled employees deserve a fair opportunity to provide the public with the best construction product at the best price," said Wu.

Also testifying before the committee, ABC General Counsel Maurice Baskin said, "It is clear to us that only Congress can bring a timely halt to the political favoritism in contract awards that is being promoted by the administration in the guise of Executive Order 13502."

Baskin focused his testimony on the merits of the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act (H.R. 735), legislation currently pending in Congress. "The bill will prohibit federal agencies once and for all from awarding construction projects based on the willingness or unwillingness of contractors to enter into labor agreements," said Baskin. "As the bill states, agencies shall neither require nor prohibit contractors from adopting PLAs as a condition of being awarded federal construction work, nor discriminate on that basis."

To download the full testimony of Kirby Wu and Maurice Baskin, and view video of the hearing, go to the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform's Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform Subcommittee hearing website located here.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association with 75 chapters representing more than 23,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms with nearly two million employees. Visit us at www.abc.org and www.thetruthaboutplas.com.

SOURCE Associated Builders and Contractors