The U.S. Senate passed 51-48 the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget (S. Con Res 11) for Fiscal Year 2016 May 5. It contains ABC-supported language adopted during Senate Vote-A-Rama that would restrict the use of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs). The House passed the budget, which also included this anti-PLA language, 226-197 on April 30. 

This pro-competition language was inserted into the Senate budget through an amendment offered by Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) March 26. Key Voted by ABC, the Flake amendment passed 51-49, marking the first time the Senate has ever voted to restrict government-mandated PLAs and it was the first Senate vote on the PLA issue in more than six years.

The House passage of the budget marks the second time the House has ever passed a bill containing pro-neutrality language. The first time the House passed a bill with anti-PLA mandate language was in 2012 on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013 (H.R. 4310) via an amendment offered by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) and Rep. Flake.

Unfortunately, the budget does not get signed by the president, but rather is a blueprint for the coming year’s appropriations process.

ABC will continue to educate lawmakers about the negative impact of government-mandated PLAs on federal and federally assisted projects and the benefits of legislative solutions that will help taxpayers get the best possible construction product at the best possible price.