[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 87 (Thursday, June 11, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H6542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE SAFETY IN DEFENSE CONTRACTING ACT OF 2009

  (Ms. SHEA-PORTER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Safety in 
Defense Contracting Act of 2009. When our servicemembers or civilian 
personnel put their lives at risk while deployed overseas, they should 
not have to worry about the safety of their living and working 
quarters. Unfortunately, due to shoddy contractor work, they do. 
American personnel have been injured or killed by electric shocks. That 
same deficient work has resulted in hundreds of fires, one which 
destroyed the largest dining hall in Iraq. Gross negligence by 
contractors is unacceptable.
  That is why I am introducing the Safety in Defense Contracting Act to 
protect our military and civilian personnel by debarring grossly 
negligent or reckless defense contractors found guilty of causing death 
or injury to our personnel. Such contractors do not deserve further 
government contracts worth millions of dollars for performing the same 
work.
  To make matters worse, defense contractors who are guilty of 
dangerously deficient work have been receiving award and incentive 
fees. My bill denies them these fees. They should no longer be rewarded 
for poor performance at the expense of the taxpayers. It will take time 
to rebuild our contractor oversight capabilities, but I ask my 
colleagues to join me in this bill.

                          ____________________