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Congressional representatives

Bipartisan Opposition to Amendment Threatens Union Jobs in Offshore Wind Project

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Congressmen Joe Courtney, Gabe Amo, and Seth Magaziner, along with the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), expressed strong opposition to an amendment to the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act that would have forced the Department of Defense to issue duplicative certifications for offshore wind projects, including the Revolution Wind Project. The amendment, which was voted down in a bipartisan 209-224 vote, would have significantly delayed the project's completion and put thousands of union jobs at risk.

Key Takeaways:

  • The amendment, opposed by LIUNA, would have forced the 80% complete Revolution Wind project to undergo unnecessary re-review by the Department of Defense, potentially delaying its completion.
  • The project has already been extensively reviewed and vetted by the Department of Defense, with a 2023 Record of Decision and a December 2024 letter from the Department of Defense stating that the project would not have adverse impacts on DoD missions.
  • The amendment would have had a negative impact on union jobs, with over 1,000 workers having logged over 2 million hours on the project.
  • LIUNA General President Brent Booker expressed opposition to the amendment, which he claimed would help destroy thousands of union jobs on a project that is 80% complete.
  • The Trump Administration's August 22nd halt work order for the Revolution Wind project cited vague national security concerns.
  • The lawmakers called for the Administration to lift the halt work order immediately, citing the need for time to save thousands of jobs and hundreds of thousands of homes set to receive cheaper electricity from the project.

Statistics:

  • 209-224: the bipartisan vote against the amendment to the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act.
  • 80%: the percentage of completion for the Revolution Wind project.
  • 1,000+: the number of workers who have logged over 2 million hours on the project.
  • August 22nd: the date of the Trump Administration's halt work order for the Revolution Wind project.
  • 2023: the year the Department of Defense issued a Record of Decision stating that the project would not have adverse impacts on DoD missions.

Sources:

  • Office of Connecticut Rep. Joseph Courtney
  • LABORERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA STATEMENT IN OPPOSITION TO THE AMENDMENT
  • December 2024 letter from the Department of Defense
  • 2023 Record of Decision

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