Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has joined Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and 12 other Senate Republicans in reintroducing the Fair and Open Competition Act (FOCA). The proposed legislation seeks to prevent the federal government from mandating project labor agreements (PLAs) on federally funded construction projects.
Supporters of the bill argue that prohibiting mandated PLAs would encourage competition, reduce costs, and provide more opportunities for contractors to bid on government projects. PLAs are pre-hire agreements that establish labor terms and conditions for construction projects. Critics of these agreements argue they increase costs and limit participation from non-union contractors.
“Federal contracts should be awarded based on merit, not special interests,” said Senator Britt. “Project labor agreements are not only costly, but also discourage qualified contractors from competing, all at the expense of hardworking taxpayers and small businesses.” She emphasized that the legislation aims to enhance competition, lower costs, and ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
Senator Young echoed these sentiments, stating that the bill would “restore competition in the construction industry” and “protect workers from discriminatory contracts.” He highlighted his experience growing up in a small-business family and emphasized that the legislation seeks to create a fairer bidding process for contractors.
Alabama is among 24 states with laws prohibiting government-mandated PLAs on state, state-assisted, and local construction projects. The Fair and Open Competition Act, if passed, would extend a similar prohibition to federal projects nationwide.
In addition to supporting FOCA, Senator Britt is a cosponsor of the National Right to Work Act, which seeks to prevent workers from being required to pay union dues as a condition of employment. She has stated that the bill aligns with Alabama’s long-standing right-to-work policies, which have been in place since 1953 and were further reinforced by a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2016.
The reintroduction of FOCA comes amid ongoing debates over federal labor policies and their impact on businesses, workers, and taxpayers. The bill’s progress will be closely watched as lawmakers continue discussions on labor regulations and government contracting practices.
