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Floor Statements

Foxx Statement: Floor Debate to Block Blacklisting Rule


We are here today to stand up for workers, taxpayers, and small businesses.

We all agree employers who do business with the federal government should be held to high standards, and their employees deserve strong protections. That is why for decades, the federal government has had a system in place to deny contracts to employers who violate federal labor laws.

Time and again, Republicans in Congress urged the Obama administration to enforce the current system to ensure workers received fair pay and safe workplaces.  

Instead, the previous administration did the exact opposite. It went in search of a problem that doesn’t exist. It took its eye off the ball, and we are here today to demand better.

The Obama blacklisting rule empowers government agencies to deny employers federal contracts for alleged violations of various federal labor laws and similar state laws. That’s right. Under this rule, bureaucrats can determine employers are guilty until proven innocent and then deny them the ability to do business with the federal government.  

This is one important reason why a federal district judge recently blocked implementation of the rule, because it would have a chilling effect on the due process rights of American citizens. But that’s not the only reason why we are here today.

Rather than streamline the procurement process to better protect taxpayers and workers, the Obama administration added new layers of red tape onto a system plagued by delays and inefficiencies.

Simply put, this rule is a bureaucratic nightmare. It turns our already complex federal procurement process into a convoluted regulatory maze.

Despite what our Democrat colleagues will claim, this rule will actually hurt workers by making a system designed for their protection less efficient. Law abiding small business owners — the backbone of our nation’s economy — will be less inclined to bid on federal contracts.

As a result, we will see less competition in the federal contracting process. With less competition, hardworking taxpayers will be forced to pay more for goods and services provided to the U.S. government.

But perhaps most concerning is the threat this rule poses to our national security. Higher costs and a delayed contracting process will jeopardize the resources our Armed Forces depend on to keep our nation safe. With men and women currently stationed in harm’s way, this is simply unacceptable.

If workers, taxpayers, and small businesses stand to lose, then who stands to gain? The answer is Big Labor. Union leaders often file frivolous legal complaints to gain leverage against employers. This is just one more partisan rule that stacks the deck in favor of union leaders.

The facts are clear: this rule is fatally flawed. It is not in the best interest of workers, small business owners, our military, or hardworking taxpayers. It is also unnecessary, but you don’t have to take my word for it.

Last October, our colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus — Representatives Keith Ellison and Raul Grijalva — said, and I quote, “The Department of [Labor] has full authority under current law to hold federal contractors accountable.”

I could not agree more. In fact, that’s what Republicans have been saying all along. I urge my colleagues to stand up for workers, small business owners, taxpayers, and our national security by supporting this commonsense resolution. Then let’s work together to ensure existing policies are enforced and workers have the protections they deserve.

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