TITLE: Effect of Davis-Bacon Helper Rules on Job Opportunities in Construction

CIS-NO: 99-H341-129  
SOURCE: Committee on Education and the Workforce. House  
DOC-TYPE: Hearing Retrieve the full text of testimony  
DATE: July 21, 1999  
LENGTH: iv+127 p.  
CONG-SESS: 106-1  
ITEM-NO: 1015-A; 1015-B  
SUDOC: Y4.ED8/1:106-62  


SUMMARY:
Committee Serial No. 106-62. Hearing before the Subcom on Oversight and Investigations to review issues related to the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires contractors on certain federally funded construction projects to pay lesser-skilled helpers the same wage paid to skilled laborers due to a lack of specific wage classification for helpers.
 
Examines concerns that DOL proposed rule to revise definition of construction industry helpers for wage determination purposes could deny unskilled workers access to entry-level construction jobs.
 
Supplementary material (p. 45-127) includes submitted statements, witnesses' written statements, and correspondence.

CONTENT-NOTATION: Fed construction contract wage requirements for helpers, issues review

DESCRIPTORS:  
   SUBCOM ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS, EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE. HOUSE;  GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT; CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY; PUBLIC WORKS; WAGES AND SALARIES; DEPARTMENT OF LABOR; ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND PROCEDURE; EMPLOYMENT; DAVIS-BACON ACT

99-H341-129 TESTIMONY NO: 1     July 21, 1999 p. 5-44, 53-96
 
WITNESSES (and witness notations):
   NICHOLS, CHARLES H. (President, Nichols & Associates)
   ALFORD, HARRY C., JR. (President and CEO, National Black Chamber of Commerce)
   KINNING, RONALD L. (President, RK Mechanical, Inc.; also representing Performance Building Services)
   BASKIN, MAURICE (attorney, representing Associated Builders and Contractors)
   YELLIG, TERRY R. (attorney, representing Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO)
 
STATEMENTS AND DISCUSSION:
   Problems with Davis-Bacon Act wage requirements, including obstacles to black-owned businesses competition for contracts; concerns that Davis-Bacon Act discourages construction industry from hiring helpers who need employment and job skills.
   Merits of proposal to establish a helper classification under Davis-Bacon Act; differing views on DOL proposed rule to revise construction industry helper definition for wage determination purposes.
 
CONTENT NOTATION:
   Fed construction contract wage requirements for helpers, issues review
 
TESTIMONY DESCRIPTORS:
   NATIONAL BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; SMALL BUSINESS; BLACK AMERICANS; MANPOWER TRAINING PROGRAMS; COMPETITION