---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 3212"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "3212"
heading: "Maintenance of standards"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/3212"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Public Works and Economic Development"
  - "Subchapter VI — Miscellaneous"
---

# §3212. Maintenance of standards


All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors on [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) assisted by the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) under this chapter shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) in the locality as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40. The [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) shall not extend any financial assistance under this chapter for such a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) without first obtaining adequate assurance that these labor standards will be maintained upon the [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) work. The [Secretary](/usc/42/3122.md?p=13) of Labor shall have, with respect to the labor standards specified in this provision, the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (15 F.R. 3176; 64 Stat. 1267), and [section 3145 of title 40](/usc/40/3145.md).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–136, title VI, § 602, formerly title VII, § 712, Aug. 26, 1965, 79 Stat. 575; Pub. L. 93–567, title III, § 302, Dec. 31, 1974, 88 Stat. 1855; renumbered title VI, § 602, and amended Pub. L. 105–393, title I, § 102(b)(1), (2), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3616; Pub. L. 108–373, title V, § 504, Oct. 27, 2004, 118 Stat. 1769.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950, referred to in text, is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 3222 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 105–393.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 3212, Pub. L. 89–136, title VII, § 702, Aug. 26, 1965, 79 Stat. 572, related to prevention of unfair competition, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–393, § 102(b)(3).

A prior section 602 of Pub. L. 89–136 was classified to section 3202 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–393, § 102(a).

### Amendments

2004—Pub. L. 108–373 substituted “in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40” for “in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276a–276a–5)” in first sentence and “section 3145 of title 40” for “section 2 of the Act of June 13, 1934, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276c)” in third sentence.

1998—Pub. L. 105–393, § 102(b)(2)(A), substituted section catchline for former section catchline.

Pub. L. 105–393, § 102(b)(2)(B), which directed amendment of text by substituting “this chapter” for “sections 3131, 3141, 3142, 3171, 3243, and 3246b of this title” in second sentence, was executed by making the substitution for phrase which began with “section 3131” rather than “sections 3131”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

1974—Pub. L. 93–567 inserted references to sections 3243 and 3236b of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–393 effective Feb. 11, 1999, see section 105 of Pub. L. 105–393, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3121 of this title.