NABTU Praises Bipartisan Housing Act Ensuring Fair Wages for Builders

New Housing Act Aims to Uphold Wages for Construction Workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 11, 2026 – The pressing issue of housing affordability in the United States has prompted a fresh legislative response, endorsing fair compensation for construction workers. North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) President Sean McGarvey expressed his support for a new bipartisan initiative aimed at addressing the nation’s housing challenges, while also safeguarding the earnings of those in the construction industry.

NABTU applauds the bipartisan initiative led by Senators Scott and Warren, aimed at tackling the housing crisis without sacrificing the earnings of construction laborers. A significant concern over the years has been the tendency of some contractors to reduce construction worker wages, mistakenly believing it will lower overall housing costs. McGarvey emphasizes that cutting costs should not compromise the financial well-being of workers who are essential to the home-building process. The proposed 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act seeks to rectify this by ensuring all workers on applicable projects, whether unionized or not, receive at least the prevailing local wage.

Prevailing wage levels guarantee that construction professionals can continue to support their households while living in the communities they help build. NABTU is eager to collaborate with legislators from both political parties to further enhance labor standards, ensuring the skilled workforce is duly respected and compensated.

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Media Contact: Betsy Barrett, (202) 997-3266 | bbarrett@nabtu.org

About NABTU: North America’s Building Trades Unions is a coalition of 14 national and international unions representing over 3 million skilled craft professionals across the U.S. and Canada. Annually, these unions and their contractor partners allocate over $2.5 billion in private funding towards the operation of more than 1,900 apprenticeship and training facilities across North America. NABTU is committed to ensuring economic stability and job opportunities for construction workers, advocating for fair wages and benefits, endorsing responsible investments, and promoting prestigious training programs. The organization is also dedicated to increasing construction career access for women, minority groups, and veterans. For more information, please visit nabtu.org.