
The United States Congress passed the Davis-Bacon
Act in 1931. The Davis-Bacon Act was enacted to prevent non-local
contractors from
invading a region, using cheap, untrained labor to build sub-standard
projects and moving on to another region. The Act was designed
to create a level playing field with regard to labor cost, so
that contractors are allowed to bid projects based on their skills
and
efficiencies without disrupting local wage rates. Since the Act
was enacted in 1931, Congress has added prevailing wage provisions
to approximately 60 statutes which assist construction projects
through grants, loans, loan guarantees, and insurance. These “Related
Acts” involve construction in such areas as transportation,
housing, air and water pollution reduction and health.
Passed in 1965, enacted in 1966, Public Act 166 largely mirrors
the Federal Davis-Bacon Act. Public Act 166 applies to construction
projects
that contain state funding and are not covered by the Federal Davis-Bacon
Act.
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