Congressmen Kim, Garamendi, and Norcross Reintroduce Bill to Boost Local Construction Hiring

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03), Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), and Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), reintroduced the bipartisan Put Our Neighbors to Work Act, which would create more opportunities for local hiring from military construction projects.

The Put Our Neighbors to Work Act would increase opportunities for local jobs from military construction projects by increasing transparency and awareness of military construction projects of over $250,000. In addition, a preference will be given to contractors within the same state, or within 60 miles of the construction project.

“New Jersey’s construction workers, labor unions, and small businesses are always ready to get to work. I’m proud to offer the Put Our Neighbors to Work Act to improve their chances to compete for federal military construction work on a level playing field,” said Congressman Kim. “This bill would help ensure that the money from construction projects coming to our Joint Base stays in our community. It’ll result in jobs and opportunities for our local building trades, and a path forward for so many working families across our state.”

“I stand with Congressman Kim to ensure that union workers and small businesses are at the front of the line for multi-million-dollar construction projects on military bases nationwide,” said Congressman Garamendi, top Democrat on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, which has jurisdiction over all U.S. military bases, installations, and buildings. “Local workers are ready, able, and willing to do the job of rebuilding our nation’s military installations, and I am thrilled to be an original cosponsor of this critical legislation.”

“As a former electrician, I know firsthand the impact that the Put Our Neighbors to Work Act would have on local workers, their families and small businesses in South Jersey and across the country,” Rep. Norcross said. “This bill will level the playing field for the workers, small businesses and subcontractors in the communities that support our military bases day in and day out. When local labor is used, the money stays in our neighborhoods. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this initiative and expand job opportunities for local workers and small businesses.”

The full text of the Put Our Neighbors to Work Act can be found here, and summary of the bill can be found here.

Congressman Kim is the Ranking Member on the Military Personnel Subcommittee, and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. More information about Congressman Kim’s accessibility, his work serving New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, and information on newsletters and his monthly town halls can be found on his website by clicking here.

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