On Feb. 4, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4521, he America COMPETES Act by a vote of 222-210. The ABC-opposed bill is filled with anti-competitive provisions that would impose harmful labor policies, including instituting “card-check” provisions, expanding prevailing wage requirements and restricting access to the nation’s registered apprenticeship system for nonunion workers through the ABC-opposed National Apprenticeship Act.
The mostly party-line vote saw Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., vote with Democrats while Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., joined all other Republicans in opposition.
On Feb. 3, ABC sent a Key Vote letter to the House urging representatives to oppose this bill. The ABC-led Coalition for a Democratic Workplace also sent a letter to the House and released a statement highlighting the coalition’s opposition to the “card check” provision in the legislation.
The America COMPETES Act is the House version of the Senate-passed bill S. 1260, the United States Innovation and Competition Act. Importantly, although the Senate-passed version does include prevailing wage expansion, it does not include the other ABC-opposed provisions from the House bill. The pieces of legislation will now head to a conference committee to resolve differences before returning to both chambers for final passage.
ABC will continue to advocate against these anti-competitive provisions and keep members updated on this bill as it makes its way through the House and conference.