CONTRACTS

Articles and editorials

Carrying a Torch, H2848 [18MY]

Contractor Admits Bribing a U.S. Official in Iraq—Lawyer Uses Civil War-Era Law To Go After Firms for Corruption, but Adminstration Won't Help, S6111 [20JN]

Kremlin Capitalism, Russian Car Maker Comes Under Sway of Old Pal Putin, S6398 [22JN]

Kremlin Moves To Take Control of Key Mineral Titanium, S6399-S6401 [22JN]

Liberate Lady Liberty, H2848 [18MY]

Liberty Is Open Again to the Masses, but Just to the Hem of Her Robes, H2848 [18MY]

Plea Deal Shows How Businessman Rigged Bids for Rebuilding Hillah; `Considered It a Free-Fraud Zone', S6111 [20JN]

Russian State To Buy Stake in VSMPO, S6399 [22JN]

Bills and resolutions

Air Force: limit Air Force Space Command personnel reduction (see S. 3121), S5228 [25MY] (see H.R. 5497), H3307 (see H.R. 5497), H3359 [25MY]

Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.: add Director of National Intelligence, strengthen consideration of national security concerns over foreign acquisitions, and require increased transparency (see S. 2335), S1539 [28FE]

Construction industries: require companies receiving funds for Federal construction projects to conduct employee background checks prior to participation in the construction of public schools (see H.R. 4661), H23 [31JA]

Crime: increase penalties for engaging in fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency funds (see S. 3547), S6283 [21JN] (see S. 3559), S6419 [22JN]

———prohibit unauthorized removal or use of personal information contained in a database owned, operated, or maintained by the Federal Government (see S. 3506), S5779 [13JN] (see H.R. 5661), H4423 [21JN]

———promote accountability and prevent fraud in Federal contracting relative to reconstruction efforts in the Gulf Coast Region or Iraq (see S. 2277), S1129 [13FE]

Dept. of Defense: prohibit defense contractors from requiring licenses or fees for use of military likenesses and designations (see H.R. 4806), H449 [28FE]

Dept. of Energy: ensure equitable provision of pension and medical benefits to contractor employees (see S. 2794), S4469 [11MY] (see H.R. 5362), H2584 [11MY]

Dept. of Homeland Security: prohibit the procurement of certain items unless they are domestically grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced (see H.R. 4946), H972 [14MR]

———transmit to the House of Representatives documents relative to any existing or previous agreement between the Dept. and Shirlington Limousine and Transportation, Inc., of Arlington, VA (see H. Res. 809), H2338 [9MY]

Dept. of the Interior: allow for the renegotiation of the payment schedule of contracts with the Redwood Valley Country Water District (see S. 3189), S5229 [25MY] (see H.R. 5516), H3307 (see H.R. 5516), H3360 [25MY]

———modify an amendatory repayment contract with the North Unit Irrigation District (see S. 2502), S2799 [4AP] (see H.R. 5079), H1451 [4AP]

Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: clarify preference for local firms in the award of certain contracts for disaster relief activities (see H.R. 4979), H1128 [16MR]

Disasters: ensure full partnership of small contractors in Federal disaster reconstruction efforts (see S. 2608), S3378 [7AP]

Federal contracts: improve Federal contracting and procurement by eliminating fraud and abuse, improving competition, and enhancing administration of Federal contracting personnel (see S. 2361), S1644 [2MR]

———limit the number of, and require reporting relative to, all subcontracts (see H.R. 5181), H1741 [25AP]

Financial institutions: improve the netting process for financial contracts (see H.R. 5585), H3787 [12JN]

GAO: conduct a study on the extent to which security operations at U.S. seaports are managed by nationals of foreign countries and other related matters (see H.R. 4978), H1128 [16MR]

Hurricanes: ensure efficiency and fairness in awarding of Federal contracts in connection with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita reconstruction efforts (see S. 2774), S4339 [10MY]

Immigration: require the debarment from Federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements of employers who hire unauthorized aliens (see H.R. 5505), H3307 (see H.R. 5505), H3360 [25MY]

Iraq: direct the Depts. of State and Defense, and request the President, to provide certain information relative to contracting with any entity for public relations purposes (see H. Res. 685), H332 [15FE]

———prohibit profiteering and fraud relative to military action, relief, and reconstruction efforts (see S. 2356), S1644 [2MR]

National security: moratorium on certain contracts to conduct port operations (see H.R. 4977), H1128 [16MR]

———prohibit foreign government-owned companies from leasing or controlling property at U.S. ports and require increased transparency relative to existing or proposed port contracts (see S. 2334), S1539 [28FE] (see H.R. 4842), H508 [1MR]

———prohibit merger, acquisition, or takeover of Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., by Dubai Ports World (company) (see S. 2341), S1540 [28FE]

Public Health Service Act: ensure that projects funded through NIH comply with Davis-Bacon Act wage rate requirements (see H.R. 5545), H3496 [7JN]

Taxation: exclude from gross income amounts awarded to qui tam plaintiffs (see H.R. 4887), H644 [7MR]

———impose an additional tax on taxable income attributable to contracts with the U.S. for goods and services for the war in Iraq (see H.R. 4853), H564 [2MR]

———provide Federal contracting preferences for, and a reduction in income tax rates on, patriot corporations (see H.R. 5699), H4794 [28JN]

———repeal withholding tax on Federal, State and local government contracts (see S. 2821), S4695 [17MY]

———restrict disclosure of information by tax return preparers to third party entities and prohibit private tax collection contracts (see H.R. 5084), H1452 [4AP]

U.S. Code: enact certain laws relative to public contracts (see H.R. 5414), H2705 (see H.R. 5414), H2757 [17MY]

Utah: confirm as authorized, valid, and enforceable certain contractural rights of water users and water user organizations under the Strawberry Valley Project (see H.R. 4831), H508 [1MR]

Vietnamese Conflict: provide compensation to Federal employees or defense contractors who suffered disability or death due to exposure to Agent Orange (see H.R. 4739), H224 [8FE]

Memorandums

Center for Rotorcraft Innovation Memorandum of Agreement, H4297 [20JN]

Papers

Personnel Action Relative to Bunnatine H. Greenhouse: Dept. of Defense, S5857 [14JN]

Remarks in House

Air Force: limit Air Force Space Command personnel reduction (H.R. 5497), E988 [26MY]

Buy American Act: compliance, H4767 [28JN]

Center for Rotorcraft Innovation: prohibit funding, H4296-H4298 [20JN]

Committees of the House: establish select committee to investigate awarding and carrying out of contracts relative to the war on terrorism and hurricane relief, H981-H987 [15MR], H1098, H1099 [16MR], H3744, H3746 [12JN]

Corps of Engineers: permit reprogramming of funds to meet certain project cost increases and provide authority for continuing contracts, H3170 [24MY]

Crime: increase penalties for engaging in fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency funds (H.R. 4356), H4231-H4233 [20JN]

———promote accountability and prevent fraud in Federal contracting relative to reconstruction efforts in Iraq, H4034, H4083 [15JN], H4381 [21JN]

———promote accountability and prevent fraud in Federal contracting relative to reconstruction efforts in the Gulf Coast Region, H950 [14MR]

———promote accountability and prevent fraud in Federal contracting relative to reconstruction efforts in the Gulf Coast Region or Iraq, H263 [14FE], H376 [16FE]

Dept. of Agriculture: Milk Income Loss Contract Program extension, H3050, H3051, H3053, H3078 [23MY]

———privatization of Food Stamp Program eligibility determination process, H3103, H3104 [23MY]

Dept. of Defense: additional oversight and accountability of contractors deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, retroactive regulations on previously issued contract extensions, and background checks on foreign nationals funding, H2538, H2539 [11MY]

———CH-47 helicopter RESET program funding, H2530, H2531 [11MY]

———Defense Travel System funding, H4273, H4274 [20JN]

———implement GAO recommendation to cut down on award and incentive fee spending waste, H2521 [11MY]

———prohibit the awarding of contracts based on data from the Defense Contract Audit Agency, H1101-H1104 [16MR]

———prohibit use of award or incentive fees for contractors whose performance is unsatisfactory or incomplete, H4271, H4272 [20JN]

Dept. of Energy: ensure equitable provision of pension and medical benefits to contractor employees, H3163 [24MY]

———ensure equitable provision of pension and medical benefits to contractor employees (H.R. 5362), E824 [12MY]

Dept. of Homeland Security: Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants Program funding through reduction in limousine and shuttle services funding, H3374 [6JN]

Dept. of Justice: limit the maximum review period for whistleblower lawsuits brought under the False Claims Act against Federal contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, H4770, H4771 [28JN]

Depts. of Transportation, the Treasury, and HUD, the Judiciary, District of Columbia, and independent agencies: prohibit corporations incorporated in certain foreign countries from being eligible for Federal contracts, H3918-H3920 [14JN]

———prohibit funding to implement revisions to OMB rules relative to competitive sourcing for Federal contracts, H3827 [13JN]

Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: clarify preference for local firms in the award of certain contracts for disaster relief activities, H3339 [25MY]

———clarify preference for local firms in the award of certain contracts for disaster relief activities (H.R. 4979), H1154-H1157 [28MR]

Halliburton Co.: investigation of alleged misuse and abuse of funds and resources provided under contracts dealing with reconstruction efforts in Iraq, H467 [1MR], H4381 [21JN]

Hurricanes: assessment of Federal contracting practices for Hurricane Katrina relief projects, E739 [5MY]

———establish independent commission and request GAO oversight of Federal spending and contracting in response to Hurricane Katrina, H615 [7MR]

Intelligence services: require accountability for intelligence community contracting, H1804, H1805 [26AP]

Iraq: improve congressional oversight of Iraq war and reconstruction efforts, H648 [8MR], H1189-H1191 [28MR], H1201, H1202 [29MR]

IRS: prohibit private tax collection contracts, H1550 [5AP]

———tax and economic implications of businesses misclassifying employees as independent contractors, E1160 [15JN]

Lincoln Group (business): prohibit funding, H4303, H4304 [20JN]

Lobbyists: examine practice of charging percentage contingency fees in exchange for earmarks, H1881, H1882 [27AP]

National Park Service: require competitive bidding for contract to provide ferry service to the Statue of Liberty, H2847, H2848 [18MY]

National security: prohibit foreign government-owned companies from leasing or controlling property at U.S. ports and require increased transparency relative to existing or proposed port contracts, H626 [7MR]

———prohibit foreign government-owned companies from leasing or controlling property at U.S. ports and require increased transparency relative to existing or proposed port contracts (H.R. 4842), H495 [1MR], H604 [7MR]

Northwest Manufacturing Inititative: prohibit funding, H4304-H4306 [20JN]

Postal Service: prohibit funding to implement competitive sourcing of postal police officer positions, H3931 [14JN]

Science, Depts. of State, Justice, Commerce, and related agencies: prohibit funding to implement revisions to OMB rules relative to competitive sourcing for Federal contracts, H4800 [29JN]

Taxation: provide Federal contracting preferences for, and a reduction in income tax rates on, patriot corporations (H.R. 5699), E1309 [28JN]

———restrict disclosure of information by tax return preparers to third party entities and prohibit private tax collection contracts, H3960 [14JN]

U.N.: prohibit funding for U.N. Headquarters Building renovation project, H4747, H4752 [28JN]

U.S. Code: enact certain laws relative to public contracts (H.R. 5414), E861 [17MY]

Wisconsin Procurement Institute: prohibit funding, H4722, H4723 [28JN]

Remarks in Senate

Buy American Act: compliance relative to Dept. of Defense purchase of specialty metals, S6397 [22JN]

Committee on War and Reconstruction Contracting (Senate, Special): establish, S5990-S5995 [16JN], S6108-S6110 [20JN]

Crime: prohibit unauthorized removal or use of personal information contained in a database owned, operated, or maintained by the Federal Government (S. 3506), S5810 [13JN]

———promote accountability and prevent fraud in Federal contracting relative to reconstruction efforts in the Gulf Coast Region or Iraq (S. 2277), S1130 [13FE]

Cunningham, Randy ``Duke'': conviction for taking bribes from defense contractors, S2501 [29MR]

Dept. of Defense: prohibit use of award or incentive fees for contractors whose performance is unsatisfactory or incomplete, S6364, S6393 [22JN]

———transform Defense Travel System into a fee-for-use-of-service system, S6370-S6373, S6376, S6393 [22JN]

Dept. of Energy: ensure equitable provision of pension and medical benefits to contractor employees (S. 2794), S4477 [11MY]

Dept. of Justice: limit the maximum review period for whistleblower lawsuits brought under the False Claims Act against Federal contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, S3889 [2MY], S6110-S6113 [20JN]

Dept. of Labor: Job Corps program funding, S3939 [3MY]

Dept. of the Interior: allow for the renegotiation of the payment schedule of contracts with the Redwood Valley Country Water District (S. 3189), S5256 [25MY]

———modify an amendatory repayment contract with the North Unit Irrigation District (S. 2502), S2804 [4AP]

Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: clarify preference for local firms in the award of certain contracts for disaster relief activities (H.R. 4979), S3344 [6AP]

Disasters: ensure full partnership of small contractors in Federal disaster reconstruction efforts (S. 2608), S3385-S3387 [7AP]

Federal contracts: improve Federal contracting and procurement by eliminating fraud and abuse, improving competition, and enhancing administration of Federal contracting personnel, S5845-S5847, S5852, S5854-S5857 [14JN]

———improve Federal contracting and procurement by eliminating fraud and abuse, improving competition, and enhancing administration of Federal contracting personnel (S. 2361), S1674-S1676 [3MR], S7407 [12JY]

———improve Federal contracting transparency and accountability relative to hurricane relief and recovery, S3779-S3781 [1MY], S4028, S4029 [4MY]

Halliburton Co.: investigation of alleged misuse and abuse of funds and resources provided under contracts dealing with reconstruction efforts in Iraq, S7407 [12JY]

Hurricanes: require Federal hurricane relief and recovery contracts exceeding a certain amount to be awarded only after an open and fair bidding process, S3879 [2MY]

Immigration: limit liability for contractors whose subcontractors hire undocumented workers, S5180 [25MY]

Iraq: prohibit profiteering and fraud relative to military action, relief, and reconstruction efforts (S. 2356), S1647 [2MR]

National security: prohibit foreign government-owned companies from leasing or controlling property at U.S. ports and require increased transparency relative to existing or proposed port contracts (S. 2334), S1541-S1543 [28FE]

———prohibit merger, acquisition, or takeover of Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., by Dubai Ports World (company) (S. 2341), S1548-S1550 [28FE], S1672-S1674 [3MR]

Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction: extend oversight to include all appropriations, S5914, S5916 [15JN]

———extend oversight to include certain supplemental appropriations, S3971 [3MY], S4024, S4027 [4MY]

Small business: designate areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as HUBZones and waive Small Business Competitive Demonstration Program Act for such areas, S3567 [26AP], S3873 [2MY], S4028 [4MY], S4518 [12MY]

Taxation: income tax withholding rates on Federal, State and local government contracts, S4421 [11MY]

———repeal withholding tax on Federal, State and local government contracts (S. 2821), S4698 [17MY]

U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement: prohibit foreign government-owned companies from leasing or controlling property at U.S. ports and require increased transparency relative to existing or proposed port contracts, S6750 [29JN]

Reports filed

Depts. of State and Defense, and Presidential Provision of Certain Information Relative to Contracting With Any Entity for Public Relations Purposes: Committee on Armed Services (House) (H. Res. 685) (H. Rept. 109-397), H1127 [16MR]

Document Transmittal Relative to Agreements Between the Dept.of Homeland Security and Shirlington Limousine and Transportation, Inc., of Arlington, VA: Committee on Homeland Security (House) (H. Res. 809) (H. Rept. 109-484), H3306, H3358 [25MY]

Emergency and Disaster Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 4356) (H. Rept. 109-473), H2961 [19MY]

GSA Modernization Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (H.R. 2066) (S. Rept. 109-257), S5226 [25MY]

Resolutions by organizations

GSA Capital Investment Program: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House), H1559 [5AP], H1701-H1703 [25AP]

Summaries

Defense Travel System, S6371 [22JN]

Texts of

H.R. 4356, Emergency and Disaster Assistance Fraud Penalty Enhancement Act, H4231 [20JN]

H.R. 4979, Local Community Recovery Act, H1154 [28MR]

S. 2277, Reconstruction Accountability and Fraud Prevention Act, S1131 [13FE]

S. 2334, Port Security Act, S1542 [28FE]

S. 2356, War Profiteering Prevention Act, S1647 [2MR]

S. 2821, Withholding Tax Relief Act, S4698 [17MY]

S. 3189, allow for the renegotiation of the payment schedule of Dept. of the Interior contracts with the Redwood Valley Country Water District, S5256 [25MY]

S. 3506, Data Theft Prevention Act, S5810 [13JN]