[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 21, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E605-E606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ACCOUNTABILITY IN CONTRACTING ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 15, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1362) to 
     reform acquisition practices of the Federal Government:

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I would like to bring to the House's 
attention the correspondence between myself and Chairman Waxman. It 
deals with the jurisdictions of our respective committees.

         House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and 
           Government Reform,
                                   Washington, DC, March 21, 2007.
     Hon. Nydia M. Velazquez,
     Chairwoman, Committee on Small Business,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairwoman Velazquez: I am writing to you concerning 
     the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Small 
     Business in H.R. 1362, the Accountability in Contracting Act.
       I recognize that the Committee on Small Business has a 
     valid claim to jurisdiction over Section 102 of the bill, and 
     I appreciate your decision not to request a sequential 
     referral. I recognize that your decision to forgo a 
     sequential referral does not waive, reduce or otherwise 
     affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on Small Business. 
     Furthermore, I will support your request for representatives 
     of the Small Business Committee to be conferees on the 
     provisions over which you have jurisdiction during any House-
     Senate conference. I am grateful for the accommodation that 
     you have shown the Oversight Committee.
       A copy of this letter, as well as your accompanying letter, 
     will be included as part of the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of this bill by the House of Representatives.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Henry A. Waxman,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Small Business,

                                   Washington, DC, March 21, 2007.
     Hon. Henry Waxman,
     Chairman, Oversight and Government Reform Committee, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I write with regard to H.R. 1362, the 
     Accountability in Contracting Act, a bill to reform the 
     acquisition practices of the Federal Government. You 
     introduced it on March 6, 2007, and was considered on the 
     House floor on March 15, 2007 subject to a rule. The bill was 
     referred to the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on 
     the Armed Services Committee.
       The bill that was reported to the House included Section 
     102 that would directly affect contracting programs contained 
     within the Small Business Act--including the program 
     established by Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 USC 
     637), the HUBZone program (15 USC 657a), and the service-
     disabled veteran procurement program (15 USC 637f)--that rely 
     on agencies awarding government contracts without 
     competition. These three programs are included within the 
     exceptions to non-competitive procurement procedures 
     contained in 41 USC 253(c) in paragraph (5) which allows 
     contracts to be awarded without competition if they are 
     covered by other statutes.
       I wish to make clear that the Small Business Committee does 
     not waive its jurisdiction over the subject matter contained 
     in those sections. My support of the bill was provided with 
     the understanding that you and I agree that the referral and 
     consideration of the bill does not in any way serve as a 
     jurisdictional precedent for our two committees.
       The parliamentarian and Speaker's offices have recognized 
     that the Small Business

[[Page E606]]

     Committee would have been granted a referral if it was so 
     requested. I appreciate your recognition that Section 102 
     falls under the jurisdiction of the Small Business Committee. 
     Additionally, I hope in the future you would provide for 
     similar consideration and accommodation when the House Small 
     Business Committee considers legislation that may fall under 
     the jurisdiction of our respective committees.
       I will insert this letter in the Congressional Record as 
     part of the debate on H.R. 1362.
           Sincerely,

                                           Nydia M. Velazquez,

                                       Chairwoman, House Committee
     on Small Business.

                          ____________________