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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 2259 (101st)

Davis-Bacon Reform Act of 1989

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

4 May 1989

Last action

25 July 1989 · Committee

Status

Executive Comment Received from DOD.

Sponsors

Rep. Stenholm, Charles W. [D-TX-17], Rep. Stangeland, Arlan [R-MN-7], Rep. Valentine, Tim [D-NC-2], Rep. Bartlett, Steve [R-TX-3], Rep. Dickinson, William L. [R-AL-2], Rep. DeLay, Tom [R-TX-22], Rep. Archer, Bill [R-TX-7], Rep. Armey, Richard K. [R-TX-26], Rep. Ballenger, Cass [R-NC-10], Rep. Barnard, Doug, Jr. [D-GA-10], JOE BARTON, Rep. Bereuter, Doug [R-NE-1], Del. Blaz, Ben G. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Bliley, Tom [R-VA-3], Rep. Broomfield, William S. [R-MI-19], Rep. Brown, Hank [R-CO-4], Rep. Buechner, Jack [R-MO-2], Rep. Bunning, Jim [R-KY-4], Rep. Byron, Beverly B. [D-MD-6], Rep. Callahan, Sonny [R-AL-1], Rep. Coble, Howard [R-NC-6], Rep. Combest, Larry [R-TX-19], Rep. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID-1], Rep. Crane, Philip M. [R-IL-12], Rep. Dannemeyer, William E. [R-CA-39], Rep. Dornan, Robert K. [R-CA-38], Rep. Dreier, David [R-CA-33], Rep. Edwards, Mickey [R-OK-5], Rep. Emerson, Bill [R-MO-8], Rep. Fawell, Harris W. [R-IL-13], Rep. Frenzel, Bill [R-MN-3], Rep. Gallegly, Elton [R-CA-21], Rep. Gingrich, Newt [R-GA-6], Rep. Goodling, William F. [R-PA-19], Rep. Grandy, Fred [R-IA-6], Rep. Grant, Bill [R-FL-2], Rep. Gunderson, Steve [R-WI-3], Rep. Hall, Ralph M. [D-TX-4], Rep. Hammerschmidt, John P. [R-AR-3], Rep. Hansen, James V. [R-UT-1], Rep. Hefner, W. G. (Bill) [D-NC-8], Rep. Henry, Paul B. [R-MI-5], Rep. Herger, Wally [R-CA-2], Rep. Hopkins, Larry J. [R-KY-6], Rep. Huckaby, Thomas J. (Jerry) [D-LA-5], Rep. Hunter, Duncan [R-CA-45], Rep. Hutto, Earl [D-FL-1], Rep. Hyde, Henry J. [R-IL-6]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

26 August 2025

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Summary

Davis-Bacon Reform Act of 1989 - Amends the Davis-Bacon Act to increase from $2,000 to $250,000 the threshold amount subjecting certain contracts to such Act and requiring them to specify the minimum wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics. Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish as the prevailing wage for a class of laborers or mechanics the entire range of wages being paid to a corresponding class of such workers in the particular urban or rural subdivision of the State in which the work is to be performed. Sets out the means for determining such prevailing wage in cases when more than a single wage is being paid to corresponding classes of workers. Excludes from the computation of wages the basic hourly rates of pay for workers on local Federal projects. Establishes a separate classification for helpers of laborers or mechanics, with their prevailing wages to be determined on the basis of the corresponding class of helpers. Prohibits the division of contracts into units of $250,000 or less for purposes of avoiding wage computation under such Act. Provides for administrative enforcement of such prohibition. Applies the increased contract amount threshold for coverage provided in this Act to other related Federal laws which use the Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage rate determination requirements. Provides that wages found to be due to laborers and mechanics pursuant to the Davis-Bacon Act shall be paid to them directly from accrued payments withheld under the contract, in accordance with specified regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor. (Currently the Comptroller General makes such payments.) Directs the Administrator of General Services (rather than the Comptroller General) to distribute a list to all Federal agencies giving the names of persons or firms that the Secretary of Labor (rather than the Comptroller General) has found to have disregarded their obligations to employees and subcontractors. Amends the Copeland Act to require certain contractors or subcontractors to furnish compliance statements concerning weekly wages at the beginning, midpoint, and conclusion of the period covered by the contract, instead of every week as the wages are paid. Requires such statements at least every three months. Directs the Secretary of Labor and the Comptroller General to submit to the Congress annual reports describing the effects of the Davis-Bacon Act, the Copeland Act, and this Act on local wages and on local and national economies.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 4 May 1989

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 4 May 1989

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 4 May 1989

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 9 June 1989

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Labor Standards.

    Source: Committee

  5. 25 July 1989

    Committee

    Executive Comment Received from DOD.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

2 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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Sponsors

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Related records

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Sources

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