Contact: Jeff Leieritz (202) 905-2104              [email protected]

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 28 – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today praised the adoption of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that undermines the harmful Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces proposed rule and guidance. Introduced by Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), the amendment would exclude the Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) from the controversial “blacklisting” proposal.

“Associated Builders and Contractors praises Reps. Kline and Wilson’s leadership in passing this important amendment, which will protect contractors, taxpayers, DoD and NNSA from the negative consequences of the flawed ‘blacklisting’ proposal,” said ABC Vice President of Regulatory, Labor & State Affairs Ben Brubeck. “ABC supports efforts to make workplaces safer and ensure a level playing field for federal contractors. However, this proposal will threaten federal contractors’ due process rights, inject unwarranted subjectivity into the federal acquisition process, and add needless and duplicative layers of bureaucracy.

“The ‘blacklisting’ proposal will lead to delays, increased costs and a reduction in goods and services critical to the DoD’s mission,” said Brubeck. “We encourage the administration to pursue policies that improve the federal government’s existing suspension and debarment system, boost small business participation in the procurement process and award contracts based on merit to firms that can deliver the highest quality product at the best price.”

ABC sent a letter in support of the amendment to members of the House Committee on Armed Services ahead of the NDAA markup and has consistently opposed the blacklisting proposal since the White House issued the Executive Order 13673 in July 2014, including in an op-ed in Government Executive. For more information, visit abc.org/blacklisting.