Recently, White House Senior Adviser Thomas Perez highlighted $17 billion in federal funding for numerous infrastructure projects in Pennsylvania. What he did not highlight is that these projects come with an unnecessarily steep price due to President Joe Biden’s union-exclusive policies, which inflate construction costs for taxpayers and exclude nearly 90% of the U.S. construction workforce amid a significant labor shortage.
New White House regulations on prevailing wages, apprenticeship programs and project labor agreements for federal and federally assisted construction projects disproportionately benefit unionized workers and contractors. Consequently, nearly 8 out of 10 of Pennsylvania’s construction workers, who have consistently delivered high-quality roads, bridges and schools without union affiliation, are sidelined.
These requirements not only stifle competition but also result in higher costs and project delays, exacerbating the economic pressures of inflation that Pennsylvanians are already facing.
The Biden administration should honor workforce choice, whether unionized or not. Allowing all contractors to compete equally will maximize the benefits for our state. This approach ensures taxpayer dollars are used efficiently, benefiting all Pennsylvanians. Learn more at BuildAmericaLocal.com.
Justin Erdner
Hampton
The writer is president of Associated Builders & Contractors, Western Pennsylvania.