Oversight Leaders Introduce Bill to Address Government Contracting Abuses

Press Release

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings, D-Md., today introduced legislation to keep taxpayer dollars from being awarded to irresponsible or criminal contractors and grantees, H.R. 3345, the Stop Unworthy Spending Act (SUSPEND Act).

"The current process for keeping taxpayer dollars out of the hands of criminals, tax evaders, and the chronically incompetent is stove-piped, fractured, and inadequate," said Chairman Issa. "While the vast majority of contractors and grantees fulfill their obligations, the SUSPEND Act streamlines the procedures for dealing with the ones that do not."

GAO has identified serious weaknesses in the suspension & debarment (S&D) programs of numerous agencies, which are supposed to keep the over $1 trillion taxpayer dollars awarded in contracts and grants out of the hands of individuals and companies who should not get them.

The legislation is cosponsored by Government Operations Subcommittee Chairman John Mica, R-Fla., National Security Subcommittee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif. H.R. 3345 is scheduled to be considered tomorrow at a Committee business meeting.

A discussion draft of the SUSPEND Act was circulated in February 2013. The introduced version reflects extensive stakeholder and academic community feedback.

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