WASHINGTON, Feb. 4—Associated Builders and Contractors President and CEO Michael Bellaman released the follow statement today in response to Congress’s reintroduction of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act:

“Unfortunately, today congressional Democrats reintroduced the Protecting the Right to Organize Act at the urging of the union lobbyists who helped get them elected. The PRO Act would radically change the employment and contracting landscape for 7.4 million essential construction workers trying to rebuild our economy and cost small businesses—and ultimately taxpayers—a fortune.

“Under this legislation, the 87% of construction workers who choose not to join a union could be forced to pay union dues as a condition of employment. The PRO Act would overturn the voice of the voters in 27 right-to-work states and wipe out employee privacy rights during unionization drives. This undemocratic bill would strip workers of entrepreneurial opportunities to freelance as independent contractors, denying them the freedom to earn a living on their own terms and pursue the American dream. The PRO Act would do anything but ‘Build Back Better.’”