To provide that the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to Updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulation shall have no force or effect.
Summary
This bill, H.R. 4148, seeks to nullify the Department of Labor's rule updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts regulations. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on June 25, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce. The rule in question was published in the Federal Register on August 23, 2023.
Expected Effects
If enacted, H.R. 4148 would prevent the updated Davis-Bacon regulations from taking effect. This would maintain the existing regulations concerning prevailing wage standards for federally funded construction projects. The practical effect would be to freeze the current wage determination processes and enforcement mechanisms.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially lower costs for federal construction projects in the short term.
- Reduced administrative burden for contractors who are already familiar with the existing regulations.
- May prevent potential disruptions to ongoing projects that could arise from adapting to new regulations.
- Could be seen as upholding the original intent of the Davis-Bacon Act by some stakeholders.
- May prevent unintended consequences of the updated regulations, if any exist.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- May prevent workers from receiving wages that accurately reflect current market conditions.
- Could hinder efforts to modernize wage determination processes.
- May disproportionately affect lower-wage workers in the construction industry.
- Could lead to inconsistencies in wage standards across different regions.
- May discourage investment in workforce development and training programs.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutional alignment stems from Article I, Section 1, which grants all legislative powers to Congress. This includes the power to oversee and modify regulations issued by executive branch agencies like the Department of Labor. Congress can use its legislative authority to disapprove regulations it deems inconsistent with its legislative intent or broader policy goals.
However, the constitutionality of the underlying Davis-Bacon Act itself, and the extent to which Congress can regulate labor standards on state and private projects through federal funding, has been debated. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, which could be invoked in challenges to the scope of the Davis-Bacon Act.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).