[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 45 (Thursday, April 21, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           WE NEED PROCUREMENT REFORM, NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL

  (Mr. CLINGER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, the White House and the Government 
Operations Committee have been poised for several months to enact real 
and meaningful reform in the way the Federal Government buys goods and 
services. American taxpayers and industry were poised to enjoy the 
benefits that this reform would provide.
  Unfortunately, earlier this morning the House Armed Services 
Committee chose politics over reform. The HASC chose to fight an 
inside-the-beltway battle instead of enacting significant procurement 
reform. They decided to risk reform in order to try to grab additional 
jurisdiction for themselves.
  To my colleagues who believe that the current procurement system 
costs too much, has too much redtape, and ill-serves the American 
taxpayer, I would urge you to communicate to the members of the HASC 
that we need reform--not business as usual politics.
  Chairman Conyers and I were prepared to let the Parliamentarian rule 
on the jurisdictional issues involved in the reform bill. For whatever 
reason, the HASC is holding procurement reform hostage until Government 
Operations cedes to others its longstanding jurisdiction for 
Governmentwide procurement.
  I am disappointed over today's events and disheartened that the HASC 
has put procurement reform in danger. I urge my colleagues at the HASC 
to reconsider their position, and to join with us in bringing a strong, 
substantive reform package to the floor as soon as possible.

                          ____________________