Accountability In Contracting Act

Floor Speech

ACCOUNTABILITY IN CONTRACTING ACT -- (Extensions of Remarks - March 21, 2007)

Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I would like to bring to the House's attention the correspondence between myself and Chairman WAXMAN. It deals with the jurisdictions of our respective committees.

House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform,

Washington, DC, March 21, 2007.

Hon. NYDIA M. VELÁZQUEZ,

Chairwoman, Committee on Small Business,

Washington, DC.

DEAR CHAIRWOMAN VELÁZQUEZ: I am writing to you concerning the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Small Business in H.R. 1362, the Accountability in Contracting Act.

I recognize that the Committee on Small Business has a valid claim to jurisdiction over Section 102 of the bill, and I appreciate your decision not to request a sequential referral. I recognize that your decision to forgo a sequential referral does not waive, reduce or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on Small Business. Furthermore, I will support your request for representatives of the Small Business Committee to be conferees on the provisions over which you have jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference. I am grateful for the accommodation that you have shown the Oversight Committee.

A copy of this letter, as well as your accompanying letter, will be included as part of the Congressional Record during consideration of this bill by the House of Representatives.

Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman,

Chairman.

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House of Representatives,
Committee on Small Business,

Washington, DC, March 21, 2007.

Hon. HENRY WAXMAN,

Chairman, Oversight and Government Reform Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I write with regard to H.R. 1362, the Accountability in Contracting Act, a bill to reform the acquisition practices of the Federal Government. You introduced it on March 6, 2007, and was considered on the House floor on March 15, 2007 subject to a rule. The bill was referred to the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on the Armed Services Committee.

The bill that was reported to the House included Section 102 that would directly affect contracting programs contained within the Small Business Act--including the program established by Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 USC 637), the HUBZone program (15 USC 657a), and the service-disabled veteran procurement program (15 USC 637f)--that rely on agencies awarding government contracts without competition. These three programs are included within the exceptions to non-competitive procurement procedures contained in 41 USC 253(c) in paragraph (5) which allows contracts to be awarded without competition if they are covered by other statutes.

I wish to make clear that the Small Business Committee does not waive its jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in those sections. My support of the bill was provided with the understanding that you and I agree that the referral and consideration of the bill does not in any way serve as a jurisdictional precedent for our two committees.

The parliamentarian and Speaker's offices have recognized that the Small Business

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Committee would have been granted a referral if it was so requested. I appreciate your recognition that Section 102 falls under the jurisdiction of the Small Business Committee. Additionally, I hope in the future you would provide for similar consideration and accommodation when the House Small Business Committee considers legislation that may fall under the jurisdiction of our respective committees.

I will insert this letter in the Congressional Record as part of the debate on H.R. 1362.

Sincerely,

Nydia M. Velázquez,

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