Urging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to remove the requirement of a project labor agreement for federal construction projects.
Summary
HCR6002 is a concurrent resolution urging the United States Congress and the President to remove the federal requirement that certain large federal construction projects use a project labor agreement (PLA). The resolution specifically points to Executive Order 14063, which requires PLAs on federal construction projects estimated at $35 million or more, and argues that this requirement can limit participation by contractors and workers who are not members of a labor organization.
The resolution highlights Ellsworth Air Force Base as a South Dakota federal installation where future construction projects could be affected by the PLA requirement. It frames the issue as especially significant in South Dakota because the state is right-to-work and does not require union membership, so the resolution contends that the federal PLA mandate could exclude some South Dakota workers from jobs on federal projects in the state.
Impact
HCR6002 does not change South Dakota statutes or regulate private conduct directly; instead, it expresses the Legislature’s position and formally petitions federal officials to change federal policy. Its practical effect is political and advocacy-based, seeking repeal or modification of the federal PLA requirement for covered construction projects. The resolution is aimed at federal construction contracting rules, labor organizations, contractors, subcontractors, and workers who may seek to bid on or work on large federal projects in South Dakota, particularly at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been received favorably overall, with strong adoption margins in both chambers and no recorded committee opposition in the materials provided. The votes suggest broad support for the resolution’s message, reflecting concern about federal labor requirements and support for South Dakota’s right-to-work policy. The final enrolled resolution indicates it was adopted by the House and concurred in by the Senate.
Contention
The main point of contention is the federal project labor agreement requirement itself. Supporters of the resolution argue that the mandate disadvantages nonunion contractors and workers and conflicts with South Dakota’s right-to-work framework by effectively requiring participation in a labor organization for some federal projects. Opponents, while not identified in the provided transcripts, would likely favor PLAs as a tool for labor stability, standardized work rules, and project coordination on large federal construction jobs. The recorded floor votes show some dissent, but the resolution still passed comfortably in both chambers.