For Immediate Release:  January 31, 2012

Contact:  Elise Marsh

                 804-698-1034

Richmond, VA – Today in the House of Delegates, House Bill 33, the “Fair and Open Competition in Government Contracting Act,” was passed with a bipartisan vote of 69-27.  Senate Bill 242, an identical bill introduced by Senator Mark Obenshain (R-26th) was also passed in the Senate by a vote of 21-20.  Delegate Barbara Comstock (R-34th) and Majority Caucus Chairman, Delegate Tim Hugo (R-40th) introduced the HB 33 in December.  HB 33 prohibits Virginia and recipients of state funding from requiring or prohibiting contractors to enter into union agreements, such as a project labor agreement (PLA), as a condition of winning any state-assisted construction contracts.

Delegate Barbara Comstock released the following statement:

“I am pleased that House Bill 33 received such strong bipartisan support in the House of Delegates today.  This commonsense legislation is consistent with Virginia’s right to work tradition and will help us stretch our tax dollars on infrastructure projects and will guarantee that free enterprise and full and open competition will determine how public construction contracts are awarded throughout Virginia.  HB 33 ensures that all of Virginia’s qualified contractors and their skilled workforces, regardless of labor affiliation, can compete on a level playing field for Virginia projects”

HB 33 received strong bipartisan support from the Governor; the Lieutenant Governor; the Attorney General; Virginia Secretary of Transportation, Sean Connaughton; the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors; the Virginia Chamber of Commerce; the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce; the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce; the Purcellville Business and Professional Association; a coalition of 13 of Northern Virginia's leading business groups and associations; the Virginia Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors; Women Construction Owners and Executives; and many of our local and state officials.

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