[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 21, 1994]



 CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 1587, FEDERAL ACQUISITION STREAMLINING ACT OF 
                                  1994

                                 ______


                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN J. LaFALCE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 20, 1994

  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report 
on the bill (S. 1587), the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 
1994.
  This far-reaching reform of Federal procurement laws is long over-due 
and will be instrumental in achieving Government-wide cost-cutting.
  The Federal Government spends approximately $200 billion a year on 
the procurement of goods and services. Few, however, would disagree 
that our current procurement system is overly complex, absurdly slow 
and frequently ineffective. It is a system burdened with an outmoded 
and fragmented statutory foundation, hampered by regulatory and 
procedural proliferation beyond comprehension and plagued by an absence 
of individual accountability.
  I am pleased to join with my colleagues in support of this important 
reform legislation which is a major step forward in reinventing how the 
Government does business. This bill echoes many of the recommendations 
made in the Vice President's National Performance Review, simplifying 
and streamlining the procurement process, saving the taxpayer money and 
ensuring fairness to all stakeholders.
  Key provisions of this reform package and changes I am particularly 
pleased with include:
  Establishing simplified acquisition processes for Government 
contracts under $100,000;
  Reserving contracts under $100,000 for small businesses;
  Requiring the acquisition by Federal agencies of commercial items to 
the maximum extent possible;
  Establishing and implementing a new Federal Acquisition Computer 
Network which will serve as a Government-wide electronic commerce 
system for procurement opportunities;
  Requiring timely responses to inquiries from small business 
contractors; and,
  Establishing a 5 percent procurement goal for women-owned businesses.
  This legislation will help the Government save money as well as 
simplify and streamline the way the Government does business. I urge 
passage of this major procurement reform legislation.
  It will substantially impact on small business. Many important 
decisions will be made by the regulators as they develop implementing 
regulations. For example, regulations will prescribe the minimal 
response time which agencies must allow to permit small businesses to 
prepare bids. If it is set too short, small business will be 
effectively precluded from bidding.
  There are other similar, although possibly less important issues, to 
be covered by regulation. The Small Business Committee, which I am 
privileged to Chair, will continue its oversight of the process to 
insure that small business is allowed to participate in Federal 
procurements.
  In closing, I want to extend my thanks particularly to Chairman 
Conyers, Chairman Dellums, Senator Bumpers and Senator Nunn, along with 
their staffs, for their efforts on this issue. We would not be here 
considering this conference report without everyone's cooperation.

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