[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 75 (Friday, May 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E722-E723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 2015

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1735) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Chair, I rise to discuss several important 
provisions included in H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2016. The bill provides critical authorities to 
support our men and women in uniform.
  In particular, I appreciate the leadership of Readiness Chairman, 
Rep. Rob Wittman of Virginia, and the way we have worked together to 
address the readiness of our United States military. The underlying 
bill takes important steps to provide authorities and funds to support 
for the readiness of our military to meet the full spectrum of threats.
  However, I have concerns about an amendment that is in en-bloc 
package 1 and sponsored by Congressman Hanna of New York. While I do 
not oppose the entire en-bloc package I am concerned about the 
potential impacts of Mr. Hanna's amendment on reverse auctions. In last 
year's defense bill we carried a provision that provided a framework to 
conduct reverse auctions in the Department of Defense. I am concerned 
that Mr. Hanna's amendment, as offered, is too broad and does not allow 
ample time for the DoD to implement what we required just months ago.
  The amendment would restrict the use of reverse auctions on 
procurement of certain items for the protection of Federal employees or 
members of the Armed Forces. Such broad language could include items 
that are more

[[Page E723]]

appropriately procured through reverse auctions. There is also no 
evidence that reverse auctions have been harmful in the procurement of 
any personal safety devices including bullet-proof vests.
  Finally, the amendment includes a definition of design and 
construction services that is overly broad and could preclude 
contracting officials from using reverse auctions to save the 
government significant funding. For example, it defines design and 
construction services to include interior design and landscape design. 
Use of reverse auctions may be an appropriate way to save the 
government significant funding.
  Ultimately, I appreciate the gentlemen's intent to provide a 
government-wide framework for reverse auctions but I am concerned the 
language is overly broad and could have the unintended consequences for 
contracting officers and potentially add costs instead of save the 
government valuable funding. I look forward to working with Mr. Hanna 
of New York and Ms. Meng of New York to address their concerns during 
Conference Committee on the FY16 NDAA.

                          ____________________