Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 85.djvu/910

 880

PROCLAMATION 4031-FEB. 23, 1971

[85 STAT.

—Construction industry collective bargaining settlements are excessive and show no signs of decelerating, —Increased unemployment and more frequent and longer work stoppages in the construction industry have accompanied the excessive and accelerating wage demands and settlements in the construction industry. —The excessive and accelerating wage settlements in the construction industry have affected collective bargaining in other industries, thus contributing to inflation in the overall economy. —This combination of factors in the construction industry has threatened the basic economic stability of the construction industry and thus the Nation's economy. —Construction industry employers and employee representatives have been unable voluntarily to agree upon any arrangement which would ameliorate these conditions. —The Federal Government is planning to expand its direct and financially-assisted construction, in part to reduce unemployment in the construction industry and in the national economy. —The Federal Government anticipates that a larger portion of total resources will be devoted to construction activity as the economy expands. 40 u^c' 276^'

40 USC 276a-5.

— ^ ^ ^ Davis-Bacon Act and other acts dependent upon it frequently require contractors working on federally involved projects to pay the high negotiated wage settlements to mechanics and laborers, thereby sanctioning and spreading the high rates and thus inducing further acceleration contributing to the threat to the Nation's economy. Section 6 of the Davis-Bacon Act provides: "In the event of a national emergency the President is authorized to suspend the provisions of this Act." WHEREAS I find that a national emergency exists within the meaning of section 6 of the Davis-Bacon Act of March 3, 1931 (46 Stat. 1494, as amended, 40 U.S.C. 276a). NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD NIXON, President of the United States of America, do by this proclamation suspend, as to all contracts entered into on or subsequent to the date of this proclamation and until otherwise provided, the provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act of March 3, 1931, as amended, and the provisions of all other acts providing for the payment of wages, which provisions are dependent upon determinations by the Secretary of Labor under the Davis-Bacon Act; And I do hereby suspend until otherwise provided the provisions of any Executive Order, proclamation, rule, regulation or other directive pro-

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