CONTRACTS

Amendments

Consumers: prohibit use of certain clauses in form contracts that restrict ability of consumers to communicate relative to goods or services that were the subject of the contract (S. 2044), S8638, S8639 [14DE]

Analyses

Dept. of Defense-Funded Contracts Under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold: USASpending.gov (Internet site), H3204 [14MY]

Bills and resolutions

Armed Forces: appropriate funds necessary to ensure that members and supporting civilian and contractor personnel continue to receive pay for active service during a Government shutdown (see S. 103), S59 [7JA] (see H.R. 3616), H6259 [25SE] (see H.R. 3628), H6306 [28SE]

——— require consent of parties to contracts for the use of arbitration to resolve controversies arising under the contracts and preserve rights of members to bring class actions (see H.R. 4161), H8970 [2DE]

BLS: require determination of the prevailing wage utilized under the Davis-Bacon Act (see H.R. 924), H1033 [12FE]

Budget: appropriately determine the budgetary effects of energy savings performance contracts and utility energy service contracts (see S. 765), S1585 [17MR]

Business and industry: prohibit business enterprises that lay-off a greater percentage of their U.S. workers than workers in other countries from receiving any Federal assistance (see H.R. 2682), H3914 [4JN]

——— require certifications by prospective Government contractors that they are not boycotting a country with which the U.S. has a free trade agreement (see H.R. 1572), H1899 [24MR]

Coast Guard: require development and posting of passenger capacity limits for recreational vessels and authorize States to enter contracts for provision of boating safety education services (see H.R. 2700), H4001 [9JN]

Construction industries: improve manner of awarding Federal contracts, prohibit use of reverse auctions for services procurements, and improve payment protections to Federal contractors and suppliers (see S. 1526), S3860 [8JN]

Consumers: prohibit use of certain clauses in form contracts that restrict ability of consumers to communicate relative to goods or services that were the subject of the contract (see S. 2044), S6699 [16SE] (see H.R. 2110), H2653 [29AP]

Courts: eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (see S. 1133), S2530 [29AP] (see H.R. 2087), H2652 [29AP]

Crime: provide that employment-related arbitration agreements shall not be enforceable relative to tort claims arising out of rape (see S. 852), S1781 [24MR]

Davis-Bacon Act: raise threshold dollar amount of contracts subject to the prevailing wage requirements (see H.R. 3472), H5941 [10SE]

——— repeal wage rate requirements (see S. 1785), S5170 [16JY] (see H.R. 987), H1068 [13FE]

Dept. of Defense: designate single senior official to procure wideband satellite communications necessary to meet departmental requirements (see H.R. 1864), H2306 [16AP]

——— provide for inclusion of certain contractor personnel in matters on the defense acquisition workforce in the annual strategic workforce plan (see S. 1289), S2794 [12MY]

——— reform acquisition system (see H.R. 1597), H2031 [25MR]

——— require death benefits to be paid to a deceased employee’s designated beneficiary or next of kin in the case of death resulting from a war-risk hazard or act of terrorism (see S. 2374), S8494 [8DE] (see H.R. 312), H357 [13JA]

Dept. of Energy: authorize entrance into contracts to provide certain price stabilization support relative to electric generation units that use coal-based generation technology (see S. 1285), S2759 [11MY]

——— enter into contracts for storage of certain high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, take title to such materials, and make certain expenditures from the Nuclear Waste Fund (see H.R. 3643), H6704 [29SE]

Dept. of HHS: prohibit entering into a contract with, awarding any assistance to, or making available technology that is used as part of the Federal health insurance exchange to a State (see H.R. 2707), H4001 [9JN]

Dept. of Homeland Security: improve discipline, accountability, and transparency in acquisition program management (see H.R. 2199), H2791 [1MY]

——— prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from contracting with private detention companies that require a minimum number of immigration detention beds (see H.R. 2808), H4491 [17JN]

Dept. of HUD: carry out a demonstration program to enter into budget-neutral, performance-based contracts for energy and water conservation improvements for multifamily residential units (see H.R. 2997), H5029 [9JY]

Dept. of State: use ‘‘best value’’ contracting when hiring local security firms to protect diplomats in high-risk areas (see H.R. 2533), H3560 [21MY]

Dept. of the Interior: provide for the termination of certain mineral materials contracts (see S. 154), S200 [13JA]

Dept. of Transportation: enhance Office of Contracts and Procurement services to assist modal agencies, States, and grant recipients with certain design and procurement practices and contracts (see H.R. 3465), H5865 [9SE]

——— improve contracting opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses for authorized highway and transit projects (see H.R. 1694), H2109 [26MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: allow entrance into agreements with non-departmental health care providers if unable to provide health care in departmental facilities or through contracts or sharing agreements (see S. 2000), S6381 [5AU] (see S. 2179), S7272 [8OC]

——— authorize entrance into contracts with administrative contractors to process claims for hospital care and medical services furnished in non-departmental facilities (see H.R. 3320), H5764 [29JY]

——— enhance treatment of small businesses owned by veterans after the death of disabled veteran owners for purposes of contracting goals and preferences (see S. 296), S590 [28JA] (see H.R. 1313), H1612 [4MR]

——— enter into a contract with a non-government entity for the conduct of audits of health care functions (see H.R. 3122), H5329 [21JY]

——— enter into contracts and agreements for the transfer of certain veterans unable to live independently to non-departmental medical foster homes (see H.R. 294), H356 [13JA]

——— extend authority to enter into contracts with private physicians to conduct medical disability examinations (see H.R. 2935), H4770 [25JN]

——— give preference to companies that employ veterans when awarding contracts for procurement of goods or services (see H.R. 1382), H1661 [16MR]

——— improve authority to enter into contracts with private physicians to conduct medical disability examinations (see H.R. 2214), H2791 [1MY]

——— improve oversight of contracts awarded to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans (see H.R. 1015), H1084 [20FE]

——— provide for covered agreements and contracts with eligible academic affiliates for the mutually beneficial coordination, use, or exchange of health-care resources (see H.R. 3879), H7622 [3NO]

Depts. of Defense and Veterans Affairs: establish a prize program to award a prize and contract for the development of a fully-integrated electronic health records program (see H.R. 1590), H1899 [24MR]

Depts. of Labor and HHS: draft disclosures describing the rights and liabilities of customers of domestic care services and require such services to provide such disclosures in their contracts (see H.R. 4170), H9010 [3DE]

Disasters: ensure efficiency and fairness in awarding of Federal contracts in connection with natural disaster reconstruction efforts (see S. 21), S11 [6JA]

——— provide for full and open competition for Federal contracts related to natural disaster reconstruction efforts (see S. 104), S59 [7JA]

EPA: prohibit from awarding contracts for public relations, market research, or other similar activities (see H.R. 4271), H9374 [16DE]

Federal agencies and departments: authorize certain long-term contracts for Federal purchases of energy (see H.R. 3001), H5029 [9JY]

——— improve access to information in the legislative and executive branches of the Government (see H.R. 1381), H1661 [16MR]

——— improve energy efficiency in Federal facilities by encouraging entrance into energy savings performance contracts and utility energy service contracts (see S. 858), S1891 [25MR] (see H.R. 1629), H2033 [25MR]

——— include subcontracting goals for small business concerns in the responsibilities of certain members of a Federal agency responsible for acquisition (see H.R. 1386), H1720 [17MR]

——— prohibit awarding of contracts to inverted domestic corporations (see S. 975), S2244 [16AP] (see H.R. 1809), H2268 [15AP]

——— promote strategic sourcing principles (see H.R. 1760), H2152 [13AP]

——— provide for a strategic plan to reform and improve security clearance and background investigation processes (see H.R. 490), H531 [22JA]

——— provide guidance on utility energy service contracts used by Federal agencies (see S. 723), S1494 [12MR] (see H.R. 1630), H2033 [25MR]

——— reauthorize Federal agencies to enter into long-term contracts for the acquisition of energy (see S. 1274), S2759 [11MY]

——— reduce waste and implement cost savings and revenue enhancement (see S. 1888), S6136 [29JY] (see H.R. 3300), H5763 [29JY]

——— repeal prohibition on the procurement and acquisition of alternative fuels (see S. 1026), S2300 [21AP]

——— require procurement from the private sector the goods and services necessary for operations and management of certain Government agencies (see S. 1116), S2473 [28AP] (see H.R. 2044), H2496 [28AP]

——— require the use of two-phase selection procedures when design-build contracts are suitable for award to small business concerns (see H.R. 1666), H2108 [26MR]

——— strengthen accountability relative to misconduct affecting background investigations, update security clearance guidelines, and prevent conflicts of interest involving contractors (see S. 434), S900 [10FE]

Federal contracts: allow contracting officers to consider information regarding domestic employment before awarding a Federal contract (see S. 26), S11 [6JA] (see H.R. 479), H530 [22JA]

——— preserve open competition and neutrality towards the labor relations of Federal contractors on Federal and federally funded construction projects (see S. 71), S58 [7JA] (see H.R. 1671), H2108 [26MR]

Federal employees: ensure Federal Employees Health Benefit Program integrity, transparency, and cost savings in the pricing and contracting of prescription drug benefits (see H.R. 2175), H2769 [30AP]

——— prevent conflicts of interest by prohibiting bonuses from former private sector employers, increase lobbying prohibitions, and address associations between financial regulators and former clients or employers (see S. 1779), S5129 [15JY] (see H.R. 3065), H5235 [15JY]

Federal Prison Industries, Inc.: require competition for contracts, provide an adjustment period to phasing out mandatory source status, and improve inmate access to reintegration opportunities (see H.R. 1699), H2109 [26MR]

Forests: provide cancellation ceilings for stewardship end result contracting projects (see S. 326), S673 [30JA]

Government: prohibit agencies and contractors from requesting criminal history information from employment applicants until conditional offer stage and report on employment statistics of formerly incarcerated individuals (see S. 2021), S6604 [10SE] (see H.R. 3470), H5941 [10SE]

GPO: prohibit assembly or manufacture of secure credentials or their component parts (see H.R. 3767), H7026 [20OC]

Immigration: require consultation with State and local elected officials and a public hearing before awarding grants or contracts for housing facilities for unaccompanied alien children (see H.R. 2491), H3557 [21MY]

Investments: protect investors in futures contracts (see H.R. 1163), H1499 [27FE]

IRS: issue prospective guidance clarifying employment status of individuals for employment taxes and prevent retroactive assessments relative to such clarifications (see S. 2252), S7814 [5NO]

——— prohibit designation of individuals who are not employees of the IRS to examine certain books and witnesses (see H.R. 3167), H5402 [22JY]

Labor unions: clarify the illegality of the use of violence to achieve objectives during a strike (see S. 62), S58 [7JA]

Law enforcement: clarify and expand Federal criminal jurisdiction over Federal contractors and employees outside the U.S. (see S. 1377), S3059 [19MY]

Medicare: allow chiropractors to provide items and services through private contracts (see H.R. 3745), H6974 [9OC]

——— allow individuals to elect to receive Medicare Summary Notice electronically and increase flexibility and transparency of contracts with Medicare administrative contractors (see S. 584), S1161 [26FE] (see H.R. 289), H356 [13JA]

——— delay authority to terminate Medicare Advantage contracts for plans failing to achieve minimum quality ratings (see H.R. 2506), H3558 [21MY]

——— establish a payment option to freely contract, without penalty, for fee-for-service items and services, while allowing beneficiaries to use their benefits (see S. 1849), S5526 [23JY] (see H.R. 1650), H2107 [26MR]

——— improve process of recovery audit contractors and recovery of overpayments (see H.R. 2568), H3573 [22MY]

——— make adjustments relative to competitive bidding program and durable medical equipment and establish a durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) market pricing program project (see H.R. 4185), H9079 [8DE]

——— provide for expert advisory panel regarding relative value scale process under the physician fee schedule (see H.R. 2614), H3757 [2JN]

——— require State licensure and bid surety bonds for entities submitting bids under the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive acquisition program (see S. 148), S151 [12JA] (see H.R. 284), H224 [12JA]

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority: ensure compliance with auditing standards (see H.R. 2018), H2464 [23AP]

National Whistleblower Appreciation Day: designate (see S. Res. 236), S6187 [30JY]

NLRB: clarify treatment of two or more employers as joint employers (see S. 2015), S6533 [9SE] (see H.R. 3459), H5865 [9SE]

Office of the Director of National Intelligence: conduct study on use of contractors for intelligence activities (see H.R. 55, 65), H38 [6JA]

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.: prohibit the Federal Government from contracting with entities that donate or match employee donations (see H.R. 3245), H5588 [28JY]

SBA: clarify requirements relative to small business contracts for services (see H.R. 1583), H1899 [24MR]

——— clarify responsibilities of Commercial Market Representatives (see H.R. 4198), H9205 [9DE]

——— expand the HUBZone program for communities affected by defense base realignment and closure (see S. 1266), S2759 [11MY]

——— improve review and acceptance of subcontracting plans (see S. 2138), S7160 [6OC]

——— increase small business Federal contracting goals, including those for service-disabled veteran-owned, women-owned, economically disadvantaged minority-owned, and qualified HUBZone small businesses (see S. 1859), S5526 [23JY] (see H.R. 3175), H5465 [23JY]

——— issue regulations providing examples of a failure to comply in good faith with requirements of prime contractors relative to subcontracting plans (see H.R. 4284), H9690 [17DE]

——— modify requirements for joint venture offers for bundled or consolidated contracts (see H.R. 1390), H1720 [17MR]

——— prohibit use of reverse auctions for procurements of covered contracts (see S. 2139), S7160 [6OC] (see H.R. 1444), H1769 [18MR]

——— provide for contracting preferences and other benefits for emerging business enterprises (see H.R. 2234), H2798 [5MY]

——— provide for team and joint venture offers for certain contracts (see S. 958), S2220 [15AP]

——— require implementation of a data quality improvement plan (see H.R. 1410), H1721 [17MR]

——— streamline and clarify small business contracting opportunities (see H.R. 2950), H4861 [7JY]

Small business: strengthen small business industrial base (see H.R. 1481), H1802 [19MR]

Taxation: clarify treatment of locum tenens physicians as independent contractors to help alleviate physician shortages in underserved areas (see S. 2371), S8494 [8DE]

——— encourage domestic insourcing and discourage foreign outsourcing (see H.R. 2963), H4954 [8JY]

——— make certain contract research eligible for the research credit (see H.R. 2481), H3506 [20MY]

——— make permanent the work opportunity tax credit and allow the transfer of such credit in the case of contracted veterans (see H.R. 145), H41 [6JA]

——— require potential Federal contractors or grantees to certify they owe no Federal tax debt (see H.R. 1562), H1898 [24MR]

Transportation: allow local hiring for transportation projects (see H.R. 4005), H8239 [16NO]

——— repeal wage rate requirements applicable to laborers and mechanics employed on Federal-aid highway and public transportation construction projects (see H.R. 1483), H1802 [19MR]

——— require public employees to perform inspection of State and local surface transportation projects and ensure public safety, cost-effective use of funds, and timely project delivery (see H.R. 1692), H2109 [26MR]

U.S. Cotton Futures Act: modify definition of cotton futures contracts (see S. 1655), S4601 [24JN] (see H.R. 2620), H3757 [2JN]

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy: allow for a contract for operation of Melville Hall after receipt of gift for renovation of such hall (see S. 143), S131 [9JA] (see H.R. 321), H358 [13JA]

Veterans: clarify that individuals who attended a military preparatory school but never joined the Armed Forces may not claim veteran status for purposes of contracting preferences and benefits (see H.R. 3971), H8151 [5NO]

——— extend work opportunity tax credit to certain veterans, improve coordination of job training services, and improve Federal contracting with small businesses owned by disabled veterans (see H.R. 2861), H4592 [23JN]

——— improve contracting opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses (see H.R. 3945), H8150 [5NO]

Whistleblowing: enhance protection for contractor and grantee employees (see S. 795), S1629 [18MR]

——— extend protections for defense contractor employees to employees of contractors of elements of the intelligence community (see S. 794), S1629 [18MR]

Cost Estimates

Consumer Review Freedom Act (S. 2044): CBO, S8539 [9DE]

Letters

Consumer Review Freedom Act: Keith Hall, CBO, S8539 [9DE]

Dept. of Defense simplified acquisition threshold for certain textile, clothing, and apparel items: David Costello, Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition, H3204 [14MY]

——— Scott N. Paul, Alliance for American Manufacturing, H3204 [14MY]

——— several textile and apparel organizations, H3203 [14MY]

Fairness to Veterans for Infrastructure Investment Act: Michael D. Helm, American Legion, H8168 [16NO]

SBA expansion of the HUBZone program for communities affected by defense base realignment and closure: Michael Cooper, Association of Defense Communities, S2761 [11MY]

Remarks in House

Afghanistan: recognize waste, fraud, and abuse of U.S. resources occuring in Afghan reconstruction, H7379 [2NO], H7394 [3NO]

Bureau of Reclamation: provide Klamath Project contractors in California and Oregon with Endangered Species Act applicant status to ensure consultation on issues that may impact project operations, H5274, H5276, H5277 [16JY]

Cape Canaveral, FL: negotiation of lease agreement between Canaveral Port Authority and the Air Force, H3203 [14MY]

Dept. of Defense: assess outreach for small business concerns owned and controlled by women and minorities prior to outsourcing military base contracts, H3194, H3195 [14MY]

——— conduct outreach program to assist women, veteran, and minority-owned small businesses, H8128 [5NO]

——— contract for Northrop Grumman Corp., to develop long range strike bomber, H7397 [3NO]

——— exempt AbilityOne products from the Afghan First, Central Asian States, and Djibouti procurement programs, H3160 [14MY]

——— maintain current simplified acquisition threshold for certain textile, clothing, and apparel items, H3203 [14MY]

——— prohibit Defense Logistics Agency funding to implement SBA interim rule relative to procurement of footwear, H4115, H4116 [10JN]

——— prohibit funding to promulgate Dept. of Labor directive that certain recipients of health care-related Federal payments be treated as contractors by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, H4115 [10JN]

——— provide free wireless high-speed Internet and network connections access to military members deployed overseas, H3190 [14MY]

——— restrict use of reverse auctions on procurement of certain items, E722 [15MY]

Dept. of HUD: carry out a demonstration program to enter into budget-neutral, performance-based contracts for energy and water conservation improvements for multifamily residential units (H.R. 2997), H5135–H5137 [14JY]

Dept. of the Interior, environment, and related agencies: prohibit funding for contracts with offerors or principals of offerors convicted of certain crimes within a certain period, H4824 [7JY]

Dept. of Transportation: Bureau of Transportation Statistics collection and availability of data on U.S. ports’ performance, H7677 [4NO]

——— ensure prompt payment requirements are met relative to disadvantaged minority businesses, E1735 [8DE]

——— improve contracting opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses for authorized highway and transit projects (H.R. 1694), H2163 [14AP], H8164–H8169 [16NO], H8250 [17NO], E1629 [16NO], E1644 [17NO], E1645 [18NO]

——— prohibit issuance of regulations that prevent local construction hiring, H3982 [9JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: enhance treatment of small businesses owned by veterans after the death of disabled veteran owners for purposes of contracting goals and preferences (H.R. 1313), H3260, H3261, H3293 [18MY]

——— enter into contracts and agreements for the transfer of certain veterans unable to live independently to non-departmental medical foster homes (H.R. 294), H1509–H1511 [2MR], E314 [6MR]

——— give preference to companies that employ veterans when awarding contracts for procurement of goods or services (H.R. 1382), H3261–H3263, H3293 [18MY]

——— improve accountability of employees, H3399 [20MY], H3545 [21MY]

——— include outstanding payments owed to certain contracted entities in quarterly reports on the financial status of the Veterans Health Administration and report on national call center effectiveness, H2593 [29AP]

——— prohibit funding to contract with companies that have recent wage theft convictions or civil penalties, H2614, H2615 [29AP]

Depts. of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies: prohibit enforcement of wage rate requirements for contracts under the Davis-Bacon Act, H2622 [29AP], E725 [15MY]

——— prohibit funding for contracts with offerors or principals of offerors convicted of certain crimes within a certain period, H2616 [29AP]

Depts. of Transportation and HUD and related agencies: prohibit funding for bonus award to contractors for work on projects that are behind schedule or over budget, H3876 [3JN]

——— prohibit funding for contracts with offerors or principals of offerors convicted of certain crimes within a certain period, H3876 [3JN]

Energy and water development: prohibit funding for related agencies for contracts with offerors or principals of offerors convicted of certain crimes within a certain period, H2756 [30AP]

EPA: prohibit Science Advisory Board members from applying for or receiving EPA contracts or grants while serving and for 3 years after serving, H1687, H1688 [17MR]

Fair Labor Standards Act: deny Federal contracts to contractors in violation, H3738, H3739 [2JN], H3981 [9JN], H4935, H4936 [8JY]

Federal agencies and departments: include subcontracting goals for small business concerns in the responsibilities of certain members of a Federal agency responsible for acquisition, H2994 [14MY]

Federal contracts: prohibit funding for contractors who violate the Fair Labor Standards Act by refusing to pay employees for hours worked, H4127, H4128 [10JN]

Forest Service: create pilot program that executes contracts with Indian tribes to perform administrative, management, and other functions of programs of the Tribal Forest Protection Act, H5004, H5005 [9JY], H6918 [8OC]

——— request certain stewardship contracts be modified to include fire liability provisions, H5003 [9JY]

GAO: conduct study on economic impact of west coast ports ongoing labor contract negotiations, H7676 [4NO]

Government: prohibit agencies and contractors from requesting criminal history information from employment applicants until conditional offer stage and report on employment statistics of formerly incarcerated individuals (H.R. 3470), H7634 [4NO]

Medicare: provide for expert advisory panel regarding relative value scale process under the physician fee schedule (H.R. 2614), E820 [2JN]

——— require State licensure and bid surety bonds for entities submitting bids under the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive acquisition program (H.R. 284), H1646, H1647 [16MR]

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority: ensure compliance with auditing standards (H.R. 2018), E571 [23AP]

National Park Service: prohibit non-educational products that depict the Confederate flag from being sold at concession stands, H4811 [7JY], H4875 [8JY]

Obama, President: prohibit overreach of executive regulatory authority on Federal and private contractors, H6080 [17SE]

Public utilities: clarify that electric plants using biomass as a fuel source can be considered reliable without having to enter into supply contracts greater than one year, H8926, H8927 [2DE]

SBA: improve process of SBA size designation for small businesses receiving Dept. of Defense contracts, H3198 [14MY]

——— increase small business Federal contracting goals, including those for service-disabled veteran-owned, women-owned, economically disadvantaged minority-owned, and qualified HUBZone small businesses (H.R. 3175), E1112 [23JY]

Science, Depts. of Justice and Commerce, and related agencies: prohibit funding for contracts with offerors or principals of offerors convicted of certain crimes within a certain period, H3742 [2JN]

Small business: assess prime contracting goals to ensure maximum participation by a wide variety of small businesses, H3162 [14MY]

Taxation: require potential Federal contractors or grantees to certify they owe no Federal tax debt (H.R. 1562), H2241–H2243 [15AP]

Transportation: repeal wage rate requirements applicable to laborers and mechanics employed on Federal-aid highway and public transportation construction projects (H.R. 1483), H5409 [23JY]

——— require public employees to perform inspection of State and local surface transportation projects and ensure public safety, cost-effective use of funds, and timely project delivery (H.R. 1692), E446 [26MR]

U.S. Cotton Futures Act: modify definition of cotton futures contracts (H.R. 2620), H4563, H4564 [23JN]

Veterans: extend work opportunity tax credit to certain veterans, improve coordination of job training services, and improve Federal contracting with small businesses owned by disabled veterans, H2955 [13MY]

Remarks in Senate

Afghanistan: recognize waste, fraud, and abuse of U.S. resources occuring in Afghan reconstruction, S3981 [10JN], S7781 [5NO]

Air Force: allow private contractors to provide training for remotely piloted aircraft, S4013 [10JN]

Buy American Act: compliance, S3039 [19MY]

Consumers: prohibit use of certain clauses in form contracts that restrict ability of consumers to communicate relative to goods or services that were the subject of the contract (S. 2044), S8539 [9DE], S8639 [14DE]

Dept. of Defense: prohibit funding for entering into contracts to facilitate payments for honoring members of the Armed Forces at sporting events, S3745, S3746 [4JN]

——— reform acquisition system, S3982 [10JN]

——— reform procurement process to ensure purchase of U.S. made goods, S3920 [9JN]

——— require contractors to disclose campaign contributions over a certain amount, S3765 [4JN]

——— require death benefits to be paid to a deceased employee’s designated beneficiary or next of kin in the case of death resulting from a war-risk hazard or act of terrorism (S. 2374), S8498 [8DE]

——— submit report on foreign procurements to congressional defense committees detailing items purchased and reasons procured, S3920 [9JN]

Dept. of Education: allow States and local governments to renegotiate contracts and to reallocate money and policies in more effective ways, S4672 [7JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: investigate alleged mismanagement of procurement contracts, S3763 [4JN]

Economy: impact of changing workforce structure and on-demand economy, S4238–S4240 [17JN]

Federal agencies and departments: establish a spending-neutral reserve fund relative to prohibiting award of construction contracts based on awardees entering or not entering into agreements with labor organizations, S2004 [26MR]

Government: prohibit agencies and contractors from requesting criminal history information from employment applicants until conditional offer stage and report on employment statistics of formerly incarcerated individuals (S. 2021), S6606–S6608 [10SE]

Law enforcement: clarify and expand Federal criminal jurisdiction over Federal contractors and employees outside the U.S. (S. 1377), S3068 [19MY]

National Whistleblower Appreciation Day: designate (S. Res. 236), S6147 [30JY]

——— observance, S6340 [5AU]

SBA: establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to increase the guarantee threshold for the surety bonds guarantee program, S1967 [26MR]

——— expand the HUBZone program for communities affected by defense base realignment and closure (S. 1266), S2761 [11MY]

U.S. Cotton Futures Act: modify definition of cotton futures contracts (H.R. 2620), S4979 [9JY]

U.S. Marshals Service: address allegations of favoritism in award of contracts, mismanagement of Assets Forfeiture Fund and retaliation against whistleblowers, S2644 [5MY]

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy: allow for a contract for operation of Melville Hall after receipt of gift for renovation of such hall (S. 143), S4980 [9JY]

Reports filed

Consumer Review Freedom Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 2044) (S. Rept. 114–175), S8492 [8DE]

Contracting and Tax Accountability Act: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (House) (H.R. 1562) (H. Rept. 114–72), H2208 [14AP]

Cotton Futures Contracts Definition Modification Under the U.S. Cotton Futures Act: Committee on Agriculture (House) (H.R. 2620) (H. Rept. 114–174), H4591 [23JN]

Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 294) (H. Rept. 114–35), H1524 [2MR]

Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Improvement Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 284) (H. Rept. 114–38), H1635 [13MR]

Protecting Local Business Opportunity Act: Committee on Education and the Workforce (House) (H.R. 3459) (H. Rept. 114–355), H8859 [1DE]

Seniors’ Health Care Plan Protection Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 2506) (H. Rept. 114–158), H4430 [16JN]

Small Business Fairness Act: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Senate) (S. 958), S4021 [10JN]

Small Business Subcontracting Transparency Act: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Senate) (S. 2138), S7722 [3NO]

Small Contractors Improve Competition Act: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Senate) (S. 2139), S8305 [2DE]

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Improvements Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 143) (S. Rept. 114–51), S3236 [21MY]

Resolutions by organizations

GSA Capital Investment and Leasing Program: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House), H2802–H2819 [8MY], H3535–H3543 [21MY], H5664–H5758 [29JY]

GSA Capital Investment Program: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House), H1299–H1361 [26FE]

Statements

Who’s the Boss? The ‘‘Joint Employer’’ Standard, American Small Businesses and Employment Growth: Senator Alexander, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate), S853 [9FE]

Texts of

H.R. 284, Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Improvement Act, H1646 [16MR]

H.R. 294, Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act, H1509 [2MR]

H.R. 1313, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Relief Act, H3260 [18MY]

H.R. 1382, Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment (BRAVE) Act, H3261 [18MY]

H.R. 1562, Contracting and Tax Accountability Act, H2241 [15AP]

H.R. 1694, Fairness to Veterans for Infrastructure Investment Act, H8164 [16NO]

H.R. 2620, cotton futures contracts definition modification under U.S. Cotton Futures Act, H4563 [23JN]

H.R. 2997, Private Investment in Housing Act, H5135 [14JY]

S. 143, allow for a contract for operation of U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Melville Hall after receipt of gift for renovation of such hall, S4980 [9JY]

S. 975, American Business for American Companies Act, S2247–S2249 [16AP]

S. 1377, Civilian Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (CEJA), S3068–S3070 [19MY]

S. 2044, Consumer Review Freedom Act, S8639 [14DE]

S. Res. 236, National Whistleblower Appreciation Day, S6191 [30JY]