for applying and interpreting workers' rights (a) Interpretation of protections and exemptions (1) Protections All protections afforded under this subchapter to laborers and mechanics who are employees performing labor under a contract or subcontract to which this subchapter applies shall be interpreted expansively in favor of such laborer or mechanic or individual claiming classification as such a laborer or mechanic. (2) Exemptions and exclusions (A) In general All exemptions and exclusions under this subchapter shall be interpreted narrowly against a contractor or subcontractor of a contract to which this subchapter 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. (B) Clear and convincing evidence Any person asserting the applicability of an exemption or exclusion under this subchapter shall prove such applicability by clear and convincing evidence. (b) No-Less-Protection rule (1) In general The Secretary shall not take any action to reduce 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 through any regulation, guidance, opinion, ruling, standard, order, adjudicative decision, or other interpretation from the protection provided to such laborer or mechanic through a prior regulation, guidance, opinion, ruling, standard, order, adjudicative decision, or other interpretation in effect on the day before the date of such action, unless such reduction is explicitly and specifically mandated by an Act of Congress. (2) Request for Congressional action The Secretary may submit a proposal 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