[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 41 (Monday, April 11, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S3410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S3410]]
                            FPI REFORM BILL

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, today I voice my support for the Federal 
prison industries, FPI, reform bill.
  This bill would level the playing field for small businesses and 
provide relief to all Federal agencies by amending the Office of 
Federal Procurement Policy Act to establish a Governmentwide policy 
requiring competition in certain executive agency procurements.
  I understand the importance of keeping our Federal prisoners 
occupied, but not at the expense of our law abiding, American small 
businesses. As a Senator representing the great State of Montana, where 
small business dominates our economy, I have a vital interest in 
protecting business from unfair Government competition. Many times bids 
were requested from private firms that offered better pricing and more 
reasonable terms of delivery. I am for fair competition in the 
Government procurement process. Congress has a responsibility to ensure 
that no Government entity, such as FPI, has special status in the 
Government procurement process that forces Government agencies to buy 
from that entity. This contradicts one of the fundamental ideas in 
which this great Nation was founded upon, the ideal of competition. 
Accordingly, I provide my support to protect small business interests 
across Montana and America.

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