to Congress for a reduction described in paragraph (1), but shall not take any action described in such paragraph without an explicit and specific mandate by an Act of Congress. (3) Standard of deference Notwithstanding chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code, in any action for judicial review of an agency action under such chapter, a reviewing court shall defer to a regulation, guidance, opinion, ruling, standard, order, adjudicative decision, or other interpretation issued by the agency that increases or otherwise strengthens a protection afforded under this subchapter to a laborer or mechanic who is an employee performing labor under a contract or subcontract to which this subchapter applies unless such regulation, guidance, opinion, ruling, standard, order, adjudicative decision, or other interpretation is plainly erroneous or inconsistent with this subchapter. . (2) Table of sections The table of sections for subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: Sec. 3149. General standards for applying and interpreting workers' rights. (g) McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act Section 6709 of title 41, United States Code, as amended by section 202(b)(7)(A), is further amended by adding at the end the following: (g) General standards for applying and interpreting workers' rights (1) Interpretation of protections and exemptions (A) Protections All protections afforded service employees under this chapter shall be interpreted expansively in favor of the service employee or individual claiming classification as a service employee. (B) Exemptions and exclusions (i) In general All exemptions and exclusions under this chapter shall be interpreted narrowly against the contractor or subcontractor to which this chapter applies, or person alleged to be such a contractor or subcontractor, and limited in application to those persons or circumstances plainly and unmistakably within the language and spirit of the exemption or exclusion. (ii) Clear and convincing