The FOCA Act would bar federal agencies and certain recipients of federal construction funding from requiring or forbidding contractors to make labor agreements, or favoring or penalizing them based on those agreements. Contractors could still choose to enter into labor agreements voluntarily. The bill allows exemptions for certain public safety or national security needs and for some projects already underway under existing labor requirements. It would apply to contracts awarded after enactment and require changes to federal acquisition rules within 60 days.
Federal construction contractors and subcontractors could not be required or prohibited by covered project documents from making labor agreements, and could not be favored or penalized based on whether they do so. The rules would also cover certain construction projects supported by federal grants, financial assistance, or cooperative agreements.
The bill does not set spending amounts or specify costs. It states that reducing construction costs for the federal government and taxpayers is one of its purposes.
The bill's stated purposes include promoting open competition, keeping the federal government neutral toward contractors' labor relations, expanding job opportunities—especially for small and disadvantaged businesses—and preventing discrimination based on labor affiliation.
No publicly available information.