SMART Statement on Biden Administration Executive Order on PLAs

February 4, 2022

Washington, DC—Today, President Biden signed an executive order on Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). In response, SMART issued the following statement.

“SMART commends President Biden for signing this executive order. It will help ensure that our federal tax dollars spur middle-class job creation and directly benefit our communities as well as both union and non-union workers. Project Labor Agreements are a tried-and-true way of building our nation’s infrastructure so that projects are completed on time and on budget and workers are paid good wages. When these agreements include provisions to utilize registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs with strong diversity and inclusion language, they serve as gateways for local residents, women, people of color and transitioning veterans to gain access to a quality career. PLAs are a gold standard, and this executive order serves as a model that should be widely adopted by our federal, state and local governments.”