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.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4148
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-25: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (H.R. 4148) aims to nullify a specific final rule issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that updates regulations under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. The Davis-Bacon Act is a federal law requiring contractors on certain public works projects (like federally funded construction) to pay workers at least the local prevailing wage rates, which are standard wages in a given area for similar work.
Key Provisions
- Section 1: Disapproval of Regulation
The bill explicitly states that the DOL's final rule titled "Updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulation" (published in the Federal Register on August 23, 2023, at 88 Fed. Reg. 57526) shall have no force or effect. This means the rule cannot be implemented or enforced.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The bill does not amend the underlying Davis-Bacon Act itself but uses the Congressional Review Act (CRA)—a process allowing Congress to overturn recently issued federal agency rules—to block this specific update.
- If enacted, it would prevent changes to how prevailing wages are calculated and applied, effectively maintaining the prior regulatory framework from before August 2023. The blocked rule had aimed to modernize wage determination processes, such as incorporating more data sources and addressing inflation adjustments.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The DOL would be barred from enforcing the updated rule, potentially requiring it to revert to older methods for wage surveys and compliance checks on federal projects. This could simplify administrative processes but might lead to legal challenges or delays in wage certifications.
- On Citizens and Workers: Construction workers on federal projects might continue receiving wages based on the pre-2023 standards, which could result in lower or less frequently adjusted pay rates compared to the proposed updates. Taxpayers could see indirect effects through project costs, as wage levels influence bidding and overall expenses.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the rule focuses on domestic labor standards for U.S. federal projects.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Contractors and Businesses: Those bidding on or working on federally funded construction projects would avoid new compliance requirements, potentially reducing administrative burdens and costs.
- Construction Workers and Labor Unions: Workers could face unchanged or potentially lower prevailing wage protections; unions might oppose the bill for limiting wage modernization.
- U.S. Department of Labor: Directly impacted, as it loses authority to implement the rule, affecting its oversight of wage laws.
- Taxpayers and Federal Project Funders: Agencies like the Department of Transportation or Housing and Urban Development, which oversee projects subject to Davis-Bacon rules, could experience cost or efficiency variations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on the CRA, which allows Congress to disapprove rules within a set timeframe after issuance (here, well after the 2023 rule but within CRA's scope for the 119th Congress). If passed and signed into law, it would legally void the rule without needing judicial review, though it could invite lawsuits over wage protections.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges noted, but it reinforces Congress's oversight role over executive agency actions under Article I of the U.S. Constitution.
- Political: Introduced by a bipartisan group but primarily Republican sponsors, it reflects congressional pushback against executive branch regulatory expansions. Passage would require majority votes in both chambers and presidential approval (or override), highlighting partisan divides on labor policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (15)
Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5], Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9], Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-25: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-06-25: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- 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. — issued 2025-06-25 — PDF (2 pages)