Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senator Todd Young from Indiana, alongside 13 Republican colleagues in the Senate, has reintroduced the Fair and Open Competition Act (FOCA). This legislation aims to prevent the federal government from mandating project labor agreements (PLAs) on taxpayer-funded federal projects. The act is designed to create more opportunities for bidding on government contracts, enhance workforce competition, reduce construction costs for the government, and save taxpayer money.

Senator Young emphasized the benefits of this legislation by stating, "The Fair and Open Competition Act is pro-worker legislation that will restore competition in the construction industry, protect Hoosier workers from discriminatory contracts, and lower costs for taxpayers." He further added his personal connection to the issue by sharing his background with a father who ran a small business and family members who were union members.

In addition to Senator Young, other senators supporting this initiative include Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Katie Britt of Alabama, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Jim Risch of Idaho, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Rick Scott of Florida. In the House of Representatives, Representative Clay Higgins introduced companion legislation.

Congressman Higgins remarked on the significance of this bill: "The regulatory mandate on federal construction contracts undermines free and fair competition. It is a violation of Louisiana and many other state's Right-to-Work laws." He noted that while former President Trump had taken executive action to address PLA mandates previously, this legislation seeks to enshrine those protections into law permanently. Higgins stated that their bill "ensures fairness in the federal contracting process and prioritizes pro-growth economic policies."

Further details about the legislation are available online.