Davis-Bacon Repeal Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4477
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-30: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-08T04:23:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Davis-Bacon Repeal Act (S. 4477) aims to eliminate the prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act, a 1931 law that mandates contractors on certain federal construction projects to pay workers the standard local wage rates (known as "prevailing wages") for similar work.
Key Provisions
- Repeal: Completely removes Subchapter IV of chapter 31, title 40 of the U.S. Code, which contains the Davis-Bacon Act's wage rules.
- Nullification of references: Any mentions or requirements tied to the repealed subchapter in other laws become invalid.
- Effective date: Takes effect 30 days after enactment.
- Exceptions: Does not apply to contracts already in place or those with bids invited (outstanding) 30 days after enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Ends the federal requirement for prevailing wages on public construction projects funded by the government (typically those over $2,000).
- Shifts wage determination from government-set local standards to market-driven rates set by contractors and workers.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Could lower costs for federal construction projects, potentially saving taxpayer money and speeding up infrastructure work.
- Citizens and workers: Construction workers on federal projects may see reduced wages, affecting their income; taxpayers might benefit from cheaper projects.
- Contractors and businesses: Allows more flexibility in hiring and pay, possibly increasing competition and reducing project bids.
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies (e.g., those overseeing public works like the Department of Transportation or Defense).
- Construction contractors and subcontractors on federal projects.
- Construction workers and labor unions (who often support prevailing wage protections).
- Taxpayers funding federal projects.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Simplifies federal contracting by removing a layer of wage compliance and enforcement, potentially reducing administrative burdens and lawsuits over wage calculations.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; it's a straightforward repeal of statutory law.
- Political: Introduced by several Republican senators, it could spark debate over labor protections versus cost savings, with supporters viewing it as reducing government overreach and opponents seeing it as weakening worker safeguards. Referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (8)
Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC], Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-30: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2026-04-30: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Davis-Bacon Repeal Act — issued 2026-04-30 — PDF (2 pages)