Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6371) to amend title 40, United States Code, to transfer certain functions from the General Accountability Office to the Department of Labor relating to the processing of claims for the payment of workers who were not paid appropriate wages under certain provisions of such title.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 6371.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The bill before us will take a small yet important step toward greater efficiency in Federal construction contracting. For more than 80 years, Federal contractors have been required to pay workers the locally prevailing wage. Additionally, since 1961, those same workers have been entitled to one and a half times their basic rate of pay for every hour worked that exceeds 40 hours per week.

While the Department of Labor is obligated to enforce these laws, the Government Accountability Office has long been responsible for processing claims of workers being denied their appropriate wages. If a Labor Department investigation determines a contractor has not been paid the appropriate wage, the names of affected employees are sent to the GAO by the department. The GAO then ensures underpaid workers receive the compensation they are due. The GAO's responsibility in this process is purely administrative. The GAO makes no determination on the merit of each claim nor does it have the authority to question the judgment of the Labor Department. In fact, the GAO doesn't even directly deliver to workers their lost wages. Instead, that responsibility is vested with the Department of Treasury.

While claims processing was once routine business for the GAO, this authority has increasingly transitioned to the executive agencies charged with enforcing the law, such as the Department of Defense involving matters of military pay. Additionally, personnel changes within the GAO are making it more difficult for the agency to meet this responsibility. Key staff members have retired and more are expected to do so at any time. The GAO should not have to undertake this administrative burden any longer.

H.R. 6371 will transfer this payment authority from the GAO to the Department of Labor, thereby reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and ensuring workers receive their compensation in a timely manner. By reforming the claims process, we can remove redundancies and promote greater efficiency within the Federal Government. I urge my colleagues to support the Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act.

Before I conclude, I would like to take a moment to recognize a distinguished colleague who will soon be enjoying a well-deserved retirement. I wish she were with us this evening, but travel arrangements don't always work out as planned. Since 1993, Representative Lynn Woolsey has proudly represented the people of California's Sixth Congressional District. Her personal story has informed her work in public office, as well as inspired many of her colleagues on Capitol Hill, myself included.

I have had the opportunity over the last 2 years to work closely with Representative Woolsey on the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections and witness firsthand her passion for public service. While we may differ on a range of issues, no one can question her strong commitment to working families. I wish Representative Woolsey and her family all the best in the years ahead, and may they be long and filled with good health.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

The American people expect us to do all we can to promote better efficiency within the Federal Government. Washington allocates hundreds of billions of dollars each year on construction projects, affecting the lives of workers and employers across the country. We should never allow unnecessary bureaucracy to squander taxpayer resources or stand between workers and the wages they have earned. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6371, the Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First, Mr. Speaker, I would like to associate myself with the kind remarks about the gentlelady from California. She has had an excellent career in Congress, and has elected not to return. We will certainly miss her and her advocacy for those most in need.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the pending legislation. H.R. 6371, the Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act, will transfer certain responsibilities for overseeing and administering the Davis-Bacon Act from the Government Accountability Office to the Department of Labor.

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the gentleman from Michigan that this is a sensible and technical fix since the Department of Labor is responsible for many aspects of enforcing prevailing wage law. This change will allow for greater efficiency in the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage protections and will help ensure that workers receive unpaid wages as quickly as possible.

The gentleman from Michigan has pointed out that we should always promote streamlined and efficient government. That's why I'm particularly disappointed that this bill does not also transfer GAO's debarment authority under the Davis-Bacon Act. Moving that additional function would place more enforcement functions under one roof.

Mr. Speaker, I support Davis-Bacon because it provides protections to contractors and subcontractors working on federally funded contracts. The most obvious protection is that it requires all contractors and subcontractors to pay the prevailing wage, denying unfair competition to those contractors who underpay their employees. Davis-Bacon protections prevent government spending from driving down living standards. Improved productivity on projects with prevailing wage application offsets higher wages. Furthermore, better-skilled workers attracted by the higher wages are likely to complete the jobs more efficiently and with higher-quality work. Studies have shown that construction workers in prevailing wage States produce 13 to 15 percent more value added from their work compared to workers in States without prevailing wage laws.

Now I recognized that everyone does not agree with the underlying principles of the Davis-Bacon Act. However, regardless of one's position on the underlying law, we can all agree that the law ought to be administered as efficiently as possible. That's why I rise in support of H.R. 6371, and thank the gentleman from Michigan for introducing the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, November 13th, 2012 I had obligations that necessitated my attention in Champaign, Illinois and missed the suspension vote on H.R. 6371, Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act, which transfers authority from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to the Department of Labor for processing claims for wages due to laborers and mechanics hired by contractors on public works projects.

Had I been present, I would have voted, ``aye'' on the above stated bill.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained in my district and missed the vote on Tuesday, November 13, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 604, H.R. 6371 the ``Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act.''

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and so I missed rollcall vote No. 604 regarding the ``Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act'' (H.R. 6371). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''