Harris will announce a new rule that raises worker pay on federal construction projects

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is announcing changes to labor rules that could give higher wages to construction workers on federal projects. That’s according to senior Biden administration officials. Harris will say in Philadelphia on Tuesday that the Labor Department has provided the first update in decades to a 1931 law requiring the payment of prevailing local wages on public works. The new rule will use a previous definition of prevailing wage, likely raising the hourly earnings of contractors and subcontractors. The officials say they expect 1 million construction workers with jobs on $200 billion worth of federally supported projects will be affected. Critics say construction projects will become more expensive for taxpayers.