The Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act (H.R. 2747) was reintroduced to the House of Representatives by Rep. Tim Walberg (R – MI) on Friday, July 19th, 2013. If enacted, the bill would consolidate enforcement and administrative claim processing under the Davis-Bacon Act and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act with the Department of Labor.
Under these statutes, qualifying federal contractors are required to pay laborers and mechanics minimum wages as set by the Secretary of Labor. Although the Department of Labor enforces these laws, the Comptroller General currently has the authority to pay back wages to employees of contractors out of funds retained from contract payments for the underpayment of wages and to list contractors found to be in violation of the statutes. The bill would transfer authority for these functions to the Secretary of Labor.
The same bill was introduced in last year (H.R. 6371). The bill passed the House, but died in the Senate. H.R. 2747 has been referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.