[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2379-E2380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CONTRACTING PRACTICES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, the revitalization of our 
nation's capital will require the participation and commitment of both 
the public and private sectors. Public-private partnerships will be the 
anchor of any economic revitalization. This goal will be successful 
only if all participants are assured that this is a sincere effort, 
with a level playing field, and not simply an extension of the two 
decades of poor policy decisionmaking that helped spiral Washington, DC 
into its recent situation.
  The Congress has no desire to run the daily affairs of the city. 
However, the Congress does have a unique constitutional responsibility 
to the District of Columbia. Without micro-managing the affairs of the 
city, the Congress

[[Page E2380]]

does not need to ensure that as a matter of Federal policy, it will: 
support public-private efforts designed to assist in the Capital's 
revitalization; support creative, imaginative, and unique approaches; 
support the streamlining of the Federal and District review and 
regulatory processes, where appropriate, to encourage revitalization; 
and exercise appropriate oversight to ensure that the District honors 
all of its contractual and financial commitments.
  It is well understood by the Congress that the District of Columbia 
continues to suffer from past financial problems. For example, D.C. has 
experienced issues with a number of its current vendors as a result of 
its prior reputation of poor payment performance. A recent newspaper 
article documented that one of the reasons for schools not having 
textbooks was ``. . . twelve textbook companies refused to ship books 
because the District still owes for previous orders.''
  Prior negligence in these matters created a ripple effect that has a 
broad and negative reach. Vendors have been discouraged from responding 
to DC RFP's because of concerns over the selection process. Congress 
can assist in eliminating this perception without direct intervention. 
Congress can also assure all current and prospective private sector 
partners and their respective lenders that it will monitor and respond 
appropriately to any failing by the government of D.C. to meet 
acceptable government contracting practices.

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