CONTRACTS

Amendments

Construction industries: prohibit use of reverse auctions for design and construction services procurements (S. 1434), S7218, S7229 [19DE]

Courts: eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (H.R. 1423), H7848, H7849, H7850 [20SE]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (H.R. 1423), consideration (H. Res. 558), H7765 [18SE]

FEMA: ensure more effective use and management of advance contracts for goods and services in areas affected by disasters by incorporating GAO recommendations on such contracts (S. 979), S6484 [7NO]

Articles and editorials

During Shutdown, Janitors, Security Guards, and Other Federal Contractors Receive No Back Pay, H273 [8JA]

Bills and resolutions

Armed Forces: allow families of fallen and critically-injured servicemembers to terminate their telephone, cable, satellite television, and Internet access service contracts without penalty (see S. 2963), S6824 [3DE] (see H.R. 4356), H7753 [17SE]

Arms sales: modify certification and reporting requirements for sales of major defense equipment relative to which nonrecurring costs of research, development, and production are waived or reduced (see H.R. 1033), H1458 [7FE]

Aviation: withhold Federal grants from airports that violate grant agreements by discriminating against an air carrier operating pursuant to Federal contract (see H.R. 2955), H4161 [23MY]

Bureau of Reclamation: extend a repayment contract relative to Purgatoire River Water Conservancy District and authorize the District to develop an excess capacity contract to offset repayment costs (see S. 1758), S3283 [10JN]

Business and industry: allow State and local governments to purchase from the Federal supply schedule (see H.R. 3187), H4388 [10JN]

——— establish certain procurement procedures relative to businesses wholly owned through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) (see H.R. 2022), H2985 [2AP]

——— prohibit certain noncompete agreements (see S. 2614), S5841 [16OC]

Buy American Act: standardize and extend certain provisions (see H.R. 2755), H3841 [15MY]

——— strengthen requirements (see H.R. 2472), H3438 [2MY]

Coast Guard: allow consideration of impacts of Hurricane Michael for purposes of modifying contracts for offshore patrol cutters (see S. 2319), S5195 [30JY]

——— making continuing appropriations (see S. 21), S19 [3JA] (see H.R. 350), H284 [8JA] (see H.R. 367), H356 (see H.R. 374), H357 (see H.R. 421), H358 [9JA] (see H.R. 5274), H9179 [26NO]

——— provide acquisition requirements for Polar Security Cutters (see H.R. 1822), H2754 [18MR]

Commission on Wartime Contracting: establish (see H.R. 3576), H5257 [27JN]

Construction industries: prohibit use of reverse auctions for design and construction services procurements (see S. 1434), S2787 [13MY]

Construction industry: require prime contractors under Federal construction contracts to notify the Government of changes in certain subcontractors performing work under the contract (see H.R. 5247), H9169 [21NO]

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: provide with authority to regulate land contracts in order to protect tenants who are in rent-to-own housing agreements (see S. 571), S1493 [26FE]

Consumers: prohibit consumer reporting agencies from including adverse information in reports, and from making adverse determinations on security clearances, for certain individuals affected by the Government shutdown (see H.R. 953), H1349 [4FE]

Correctional institutions: require facilities holding Federal prisoners under a contract with the Federal Government to make available the same information as Federal facilities on facility operations and prisoners (see S. 2773), S6391 [5NO] (see H.R. 5087), H8877 [14NO]

Courts: eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses for claims rising under Federal or State statute, the U.S. Constitution, or a State constitution (see S. 635), S1594 [28FE]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (see S. 610), S1593 [28FE] (see H.R. 1423), H2311 [28FE]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (H.R. 1423), consideration (see H. Res. 558), H7752 [17SE]

——— protect the ‘‘gig economy’’ and small businesses that operate in large part through contractor services from the threat of costly class action litigation (see H.R. 76), H203 [3JA]

Davis-Bacon Act: repeal wage rate requirements (see S. 2630), S5895 [17OC] (see H.R. 1319), H2046 [22FE]

Dept. of Defense: develop guidelines and resources on acquisition or licensing of intellectual property (see H.R. 3313), H4770 [18JN]

——— develop workforce development investment incentives and consider existence of qualified training programs of contractors as part of the past performance rating of such contractor (see S. 1493), S2884 [15MY] (see H.R. 2756), H3841 [15MY]

——— enhance readiness by adapting infrastructure and operations to address climate change and improving energy and resource efficiency (see S. 1498), S2884 [15MY] (see H.R. 2759), H3841 [15MY]

——— establish a public-private exchange program for the acquisition workforce (see H.R. 2944), H4160 [23MY]

——— establish acquisition pathways for software application and upgrades and software development and acquisition training and management programs (see H.R. 3093), H4312 [4JN]

——— establish National Center for Military Painting and Applied Research (see H.R. 3181), H4388 [10JN]

——— improve innovation in defense procurement (see H.R. 3014), H4164 [23MY]

——— improve Mentor-Protégé Program (see H.R. 3087), H4312 [4JN]

——— modify requirements relative to use of military construction authority in the event of a declaration of war or national emergency (see S. 2705), S6155 [24OC]

——— modify semiannual briefings on consolidated corrective action plan for financial management information (see S. 1096), S2329 [9AP]

——— promote ethics and prevent corruption in contracting and other activities by limiting influence of contractors and foreign entities and ensuring transparency (see S. 1503), S2924 [16MY] (see H.R. 4277), H7596 [10SE]

——— provide a briefing to congressional defense committees relative to ‘‘middle tier’’ of acquisition programs (see H.R. 3132), H4342 [5JN]

——— provide for pilot programs to streamline decisionmaking process for weapon systems (see S. 1271), S2569 [1MY] (see S. 1800), S3363 [12JN]

——— reauthorize and improve Mentor-Protégé Program (see S. 1320), S2645 [6MY] (see H.R. 2794), H3923 [16MY]

Dept. of Education: expand eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to certain contractor employees of Dept. of Energy national laboratories (see H.R. 3097), H4312 [4JN]

Dept. of HHS: award grants to support access of marginalized youth to sexual health services (see S. 1530), S2924 [16MY] (see H.R. 2701), H3788 [14MY]

Dept. of Homeland Security: clarify requirements for procurement of certain national security frontline operational components (see S. 1055), S2270 [4AP] (see H.R. 2083), H3099 [4AP]

——— establish a program to share information on supply chain security risks with trusted providers and suppliers of advanced communications equipment or services (see H.R. 4461), H7901 [24SE]

——— establish Acquisition Review Board (see H.R. 2609), H3678 [9MY]

——— establish Mentor-Protégé Program (see H.R. 4727), H8227 [17OC]

——— implement certain requirements for information relative to supply chain risk (see H.R. 3320), H4770 [18JN]

——— provide for certain acquisition authorities for the Under Sec. of Management (see H.R. 3413), H5036 [21JN]

——— provide for requirements relative to documentation for major acquisition programs (see H.R. 1912), H2884 [27MR]

Dept. of Justice: restrict authority to enter into contracts for Federal correctional facilities and community confinement facilities (see H.R. 4970), H8718 [31OC]

Dept. of Labor: clarify use of subminimum wage relative to certain contracts (see H.R. 3704), H5726 [11JY]

——— harmonize definitions of employee with common law under the Fair Labor Standards Act (see S. 2973), S6858 [4DE] (see H.R. 4069), H7467 [25JY]

——— modify employee protective arrangements for public transportation agencies by allowing them to engage in competitive contracting with the private sector (see H.R. 2363), H3283 [25AP]

Dept. of State: allow direct loans to countries for procurement of defense articles, defense services, and design and construction services (see H.R. 2444), H3403 [1MY]

——— improve design and construction of diplomatic posts (see H.R. 193), H208 [3JA]

——— provide additional visas for Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program (see S. 1474), S2883 [15MY] (see H.R. 2796), H3923 [16MY]

Dept. of Transportation: allow States to include information on small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans in reporting under the disadvantaged business enterprise program (see S. 2031), S4628 [27JN]

——— establish a competitive grant program to repair, improve, rehabilitate, or replace bridges and improve safety, efficiency, and reliability of movement of people and freight over bridge crossings (see S. 2310), S5141 [29JY]

——— improve contracting opportunities for service-connected disabled veteran-owned small business concerns on transportation projects (see S. 492), S1382 [14FE]

——— repeal a rescission of funds in Federal-aid highway program contract authority (see S. 1992), S4566 [26JN] (see H.R. 3612), H5269 [2JY]

——— repeal wage rate requirements applicable to laborers and mechanics employed on Federal-aid highway and public transportation construction projects (see H.R. 3904), H7240 [23JY]

——— review number of contracts for new disadvantaged small business concerns at airports that participate in Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (see H.R. 4593), H8089 [1OC]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: encourage use of design-build construction method for construction projects (see H.R. 3996), H7463 [25JY]

——— ensure certain health care contractors are subject to Federal tort claims laws to improve accountability of physicians (see H.R. 3813), H5999 [17JY]

——— ensure that only licensed health care providers are conducting medical disability examinations under a pilot program for use of contract physicians for disability examinations (see S. 1101), S2385 [10AP]

——— enter into contracts and agreements for the transfer of certain veterans unable to live independently to non-departmental medical foster homes (see H.R. 1527), H2367 [5MR]

——— extend authority to enter into contracts with private physicians to conduct medical disability examinations (see H.R. 2556), H3474 [7MY]

——— give preference to companies that employ veterans when awarding contracts for procurement of goods or services (see S. 1621), S3059 [22MY] (see H.R. 2109), H3100 [4AP]

——— improve oversight and accountability of financial processes (see S. 154), S273 [16JA]

——— improve oversight of contracts awarded to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans (see H.R. 561), H600 [15JA]

——— improve procurement practices (see S. 341), S867 [5FE] (see H.R. 1577), H2504 [6MR]

——— provide for an exception to certain departmental small business contracting requirements relative to procurement of certain goods and services covered under the Ability One program (see H.R. 4920), H8677 [30OC]

——— submit a plan to address certain high risk areas identified by GAO relative to acquisition management (see H.R. 4477), H7901 [24SE]

Employment: establish a domestic workers bill of rights to protect workplace rights and conditions and ensure implementation and enforcement of such protections (see S. 2112), S4821 [15JY] (see H.R. 3760), H5825 [15JY]

——— extend Federal antidiscrimination protections to individuals who perform work for employers as independent contractors (see H.R. 4235), H7535 [6SE]

——— require a score of worker-friendliness of each employer before entering into a Federal contract and establish a contracting preference for such score (see H.R. 5073), H8826 [13NO]

FAA: provide for a full annuity supplement for air traffic controllers that participate in Federal Contract Tower Program (see S. 2898), S6669 [19NO] (see H.R. 5297), H9255 [4DE]

Federal agencies and departments: authorize certain long-term contracts for Federal purchases of energy (see H.R. 932), H1336 [30JA]

——— clarify inclusion of subcontractors and subgrantees for whistleblower protection (see S. 2315), S5195 [30JY] (see H.R. 4147), H7488 [2AU]

——— guarantee back pay to federally-contracted retail, food, custodial, and security service workers furloughed during a Government shutdown (see S. 162), S274 [16JA] (see H.R. 339), H284 [8JA] (see H.R. 678), H718 [17JA]

——— improve access to information in the legislative and executive branches of the Government (see H.R. 5150), H8958 [18NO]

——— improve energy efficiency in Federal facilities by encouraging entrance into energy savings performance contracts and utility energy service contracts (see S. 1706), S3215 [4JN] (see H.R. 3079), H4312 [4JN]

——— improve processing and oversight of security clearances and background investigations (see S. 314), S800 [31JA]

——— prohibit awarding of contracts to inverted domestic corporations (see S. 2139), S4907 [17JY] (see H.R. 3802), H5998 [17JY]

——— prohibit payment of bonuses to contractors for unsatisfactory performance (see S. 2145), S4907 [17JY]

——— prohibit procurement of drones and other unmanned aircraft systems from countries identified as national security threats (see S. 2502), S5577 [18SE] (see H.R. 5125), H8908 [15NO]

——— prohibit request for criminal history information from employment applicants until conditional offer stage and report on employment statistics of formerly incarcerated individuals (see S. 387), S1132 [7FE] (see H.R. 1076), H1460 [7FE]

——— provide a Federal contracting preference for contractors that retain U.S. jobs and purchase domestic goods and services (see H.R. 2342), H3275 [18AP]

——— provide authority to remove, and prohibit receipt of raises, bonuses, or promotions for a certain period by, Federal employees and contractors who commit sexual assault (see S. 2647), S5896 [17OC]

——— provide back pay to Federal contractors impacted by lapse in appropriations (see H.R. 824), H1242 [28JA] (see H.R. 1213), H1583 [13FE]

——— require agencies to report to Congress on non-compliance with Office of Small Business and Disadvantaged Business Utilization requirements of the agencies (see S. 2729), S6243 [29OC]

——— require consideration of the existence of qualified training programs of contractors in the award of certain contracts (see H.R. 533), H543 [14JA]

——— require potential Federal contractors or grantees to certify they owe no Federal tax debt (see S. 1385), S2770 [9MY]

——— require procurement from the private sector the goods and services necessary for operations and management of certain Government agencies (see S. 2990), S6888 [5DE] (see H.R. 5329), H9294 [5DE]

——— require transparency in reporting greenhouse gas impacts of products procured by certain agencies (see S. 1864), S3476 [13JN]

——— revise post-award explanations for unsuccessful offerors for certain contracts (see H.R. 3638), H5302 [9JY]

——— strengthen and enhance authority to discipline officers and employees for Anti-Deficiency Act violations (see H.R. 1203), H1582 [13FE]

Federal contracts: preserve open competition and neutrality toward labor relations of Federal contractors on Federal and federally funded construction projects (see S. 907), S2043 [27MR] (see H.R. 1858), H2795 [25MR]

Federal employees: allow penalty-free distributions from retirement accounts in the case of Federal employees and certain Federal contractors impacted by the Federal Government shutdown (see S. 486), S1382 [14FE] (see H.R. 545), H600 [15JA] (see H.R. 766), H1210 [24JA]

——— enable Federal employees and contractors to correct their credit reports to remove adverse items of information reported as a result of a Government shutdown (see S. 535), S1384 [14FE] (see H.R. 799), H1217 [25JA]

——— prohibit consumer credit reporting agencies and lenders from taking adverse action against Federal employees and contractors impacted by the Government shutdown (see H.R. 1286), H2032 [14FE]

——— protect credit of Federal employees, contractors, and District of Columbia employees affected by a Government shutdown (see H.R. 4328), H7711 [13SE]

——— protect Federal employees and contractors from foreclosures, evictions, loan defaults, property repossession, and other civil liabilties during a lapse in appropriations (see S. 72), S103 [9JA] (see H.R. 588), H674 [16JA]

FEMA: ensure more effective use and management of advance contracts for goods and services in areas affected by disasters by incorporating GAO recommendations on such contracts (see S. 979), S2188 [2AP] (see H.R. 3500), H5199 [26JN]

——— improve accountability of disaster contracts (see S. 2421), S5311 [1AU]

——— terminate certain contracts on the basis of detrimental conduct to National Flood Insurance Program (see S. 2122), S4856 [16JY]

Financial institutions: call for banking and consumer agencies to work with customers affected by the Government shutdown to address short-term financial hardship and long-term creditworthiness damage (see H. Res. 77), H1217 [25JA]

——— provide favorable credit under the Community Reinvestment Act to banks that provide assistance to furloughed Federal employees and contractors impacted by a Government shutdown (see H.R. 800), H1217 [25JA]

Freedom of religion: ensure laws intended to protect religious freedom do not infringe upon laws intended to protect civil rights (see S. 593), S1593 [28FE] (see H.R. 1450), H2313 [28FE]

FTC: codify ban on confessions of judgment in law in consumer loan contracts and expand such ban to provide protections to small businesses (see S. 1961), S4504 [25JN] (see H.R. 3490), H5167 [25JN]

——— increase consumer protections relative to negative option agreements entered into on the Internet (see H.R. 2683), H3727 [10MY]

——— study role of intermediaries in the pharmaceutical supply chain and merger activity and provide Congress with appropriate policy recommendations (see S. 1227), S2485 [29AP] (see H.R. 2376), H3302 [29AP]

GAO: study Corps of Engineers contracting practices with a focus on compliance with and enforcement of requirement to pay prevailing wages on federally financed construction jobs (see H.R. 2122), H3128 [8AP]

Georgia (country): impose sanctions if commitments or contractual agreements with U.S. persons engaging in business operations are being undermined (see H.R. 1461), H2313 [28FE]

Government: reimburse employees of the Federal Government, District of Columbia, Federal contractors, and States for certain costs incurred as a result of a Government shutdown (see H.R. 1016), H1391 [6FE]

GSA: establish a pilot program to execute lease agreements using alternative procedures for federally leased real property (see H.R. 3158), H4349 [6JN]

——— establish BuyAmerican.gov website to collect and display information on Federal agencies’ requests for Buy American Act waivers (see S. 1324), S2645 [6MY]

——— establish public-private partnership pilot program to acquire public buildings (see H.R. 4485), H7988 [25SE]

——— modify treatment of certain bargain-price options to purchase at less than fair market value (see H.R. 5137), H8958 [18NO]

——— prohibit awarding of contracts to insured depository institutions that avoid doing business with certain companies that are engaged in lawful commerce based solely on social policy (see S. 1104), S2386 [10AP]

——— promote economic security and workplace accountability for workers of air carriers and subcontractors by requiring disclosure of labor law violations to be eligible for Federal employee travel contracts (see S. 2678), S6091 [23OC]

——— require disclosure of beneficial ownership by a foreign person of high-security space leased to accommodate a Federal agency (see S. 1869), S3477 [13JN] (see H.R. 392), H357 [9JA]

Health: prohibit gag clauses in contracts between health insurance plans or issuers and health care providers that are used to restrict a patient’s access to price information (see S. 1577), S3005 [21MY]

Information technology: leverage Federal procurement power to encourage increased cybersecurity for Internet of Things devices (see S. 734), S1762 [11MR] (see H.R. 1668), H2646 [11MR]

Infrastructure: ensure any infrastructure plan provides for job creation, public investment, clean energy jobs, fair hiring and wage standards, and protection of Federal aid programs, the environment, and civil rights (see H. Con. Res. 36), H3283 [25AP]

Infrastructure Week: designate (see H. Res. 380), H3789 [14MY]

Intelligence services: establish a plan for strengthening supply chain intelligence function and a National Supply Chain Intelligence Center (see S. 2316), S5195 [30JY]

Investments: allow penalty-free distributions from retirement accounts in the case of Federal contractors impacted by the Federal Government shutdown (see S. 469), S1325 [13FE]

Labor unions: clarify illegality of use of violence to achieve objectives during a strike (see H.R. 4256), H7559 [9SE]

Medicare: allow chiropractors to provide items and services through private contracts with beneficiaries (see H.R. 2883), H4064 [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. 2812), S6475 [7NO]

——— exclude ventilators from competitive acquisition programs for a certain period of time (see H.R. 4945), H8717 [31OC]

——— provide relief for small rural hospitals from inaccurate instructions provided by certain administrative contractors (see H.R. 3672), H5583 [10JY]

NASA: allow procurement of supplies and services for commercial activities (see S. 2617), S5895 [17OC]

National security: prohibit national security professionals from being employed by certain foreign-government backed companies for a certain period after leaving a position which required a security clearance (see H.R. 3997), H7463 [25JY]

National Whistleblower Appreciation Day: designate (see S. Res. 194), S2743 [8MY] (see H. Res. 240), H2745 [14MR]

Northern Mariana Islands: reform immigration policies (see H.R. 559, 560), H600 [15JA]

OMB: establish accelerated payments applicable to contracts with certain small businesses (see S. 2852), S6567 [13NO] (see H.R. 2322), H3270 [15AP]

——— exempt certain contracts under the Office of Federal Procurement Policy from periodic inflation adjustments to an acquisition-related dollar threshold (see H.R. 224), H209 [3JA]

——— provide exception to contractor past performance standards for failure to deliver goods or complete work due to a lapse in appropriations (see H.R. 1212), H1583 [13FE]

Political ethics: prohibit use of Federal funds or contracting at businesses owned by the President, Vice President, heads of Executive departments, and Members of Congress, or their families (see H.R. 1626), H2583 [7MR]

Privacy: prohibit entities from requiring individuals to submit to arbitration for disputes arising from a security breach (see H.R. 327), H283 [8JA]

SBA: eliminate inclusion of option years in award price for sole source contracts (see S. 673), S1705 [6MR] (see H.R. 190), H208 [3JA]

——— give small business contracting credit for certain small businesses located in U.S. territories (see H.R. 3428), H5037 [21JN]

——— give small business contracting credit for subcontractors that are Puerto Rico businesses (see H.R. 3372), H4918 [19JN]

——— include best in class designations in annual report on small business goals (see H.R. 226), H209 [3JA]

——— modify unconditional ownership requirement for women- and minority-owned small businesses for purposes of procurement contracts (see S. 1981), S4566 [26JN] (see H.R. 3633), H5302 [9JY]

——— provide contracting assistance for small businesses in Puerto Rico (see H.R. 225), H209 [3JA]

——— provide interim partial payment to small business contractors that request an equitable adjustment due to a change in the terms of a Federal construction contract (see S. 2853), S6567 [13NO] (see H.R. 2344), H3275 [18AP]

——— require contracting officers to take a small business concern’s past performance as part of a joint venture into account when evaluating the small business concern (see H.R. 5146), H8958 [18NO]

——— specify what credit is given for certain subcontractors and provide a dispute process for non-payment to subcontractors (see H.R. 227), H209 [3JA]

Taxation: impose a corporate tax increase based on compensation ratio between the highest paid employee and median worker compensation and impose regulations to prevent manipulation of compensation ratio (see H.R. 5066), H8826 [13NO]

——— provide a safe harbor for income and employment tax purposes for determinations of worker classifications as independent contractors versus employees and increase reporting under such safe harbor (see S. 700), S1733 [7MR] (see H.R. 1625), H2583 [7MR]

——— require payroll tax withholding on independent contractors of certain large businesses (see H.R. 5419), H10257 [12DE]

Telecommunications: prohibit use of Federal funds to purchase communications equipment or services posing national security risks (see H.R. 4973), H8723 [1NO]

——— prohibit use of Federal funds to purchase communications equipment or services posing national security risks and provide reimbursement for replacement of equipment or services posing such risks (see H.R. 4459), H7901 [24SE] (see H.R. 4998), H8737 [8NO]

——— require phone, cable, and Internet providers to include all charges in the prices they advertise for service and provide remedies for consumers that have been wrongfully charged (see S. 510), S1383 [14FE] (see H.R. 1220), H2029 [14FE]

Venezuela: prohibit contracting with persons that have business operations with the Maduro regime (see S. 1151), S2433 [11AP] (see H.R. 2204), H3252 [10AP]

Whistleblowing: ensure whistleblowers who are Government employees or contractors receive adequate protection (see S. 2798), S6447 [6NO]

——— express that Congress, executive branch agencies, and the President have a duty to protect the identities of whistleblowers and safeguard whistleblowers from retaliation (see S. Res. 408), S6448 [6NO]

Letters

Aurora, CO, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility reporting criteria and requirements relative to disease outbreaks: Mark A. Morgan, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, E878 [9JY]

Northern Mariana Islands Long-Term Legal Residents Relief Act: Christine M. Ciccone, Dept. of Homeland Security, H4203 [3JN]

Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act: Representative Eshoo, Committee on Intelligence (House, Select), E1599 [17DE]

Motions

Financial institutions: call for banking and consumer agencies to work with customers affected by the Government shutdown to address short-term financial hardship and long-term creditworthiness damage (H. Res. 77), H1269 [29JA]

Notices

Estimated budget effects of H.R. 559, Northern Mariana Islands Long-Term Legal Residents Relief Act, H4214 [3JN]

Estimated budget effects of H.R. 4998, Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, H10305 [16DE]

Remarks in House

Armed Forces: allow families of fallen and critically-injured servicemembers to terminate their telephone, cable, satellite television, and Internet access service contracts without penalty (H.R. 4356), H8757, H8758 [12NO]

Coast Guard: boat construction contract process, H7287 [24JY]

——— making continuing appropriations (H.R. 350), H615 [16JA]

——— making continuing appropriations (H.R. 367), E102 [29JA]

——— making continuing appropriations (H.R. 421), H370 [10JA]

Commission on Wartime Contracting: establish, H5664 [11JY]

Courts: clarify that provisions to eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases shall not prohibit option of voluntary arbitration between consenting parties, H7850, H7851 [20SE]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (H.R. 1423), H7588–H7592 [10SE], H7690 [12SE], H7777, H7818 [19SE], H7840–H7853, H7858 [20SE], H7871 [24SE], H10080 [11DE]

——— eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (H.R. 1423), consideration (H. Res. 558), H7761–H7767 [18SE]

——— prohibit mandatory binding arbitration contracts negotiated as part of collective bargaining agreement in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases, H7849, H7850 [20SE]

Dept. of Defense: disciplinary proceedings involving Public Company Accounting Oversight Board personnel, H10091, H10092 [11DE]

——— enhance readiness by adapting infrastructure and operations to address climate change and improving energy and resource efficiency (H.R. 2759), H3799 [15MY]

——— establish a public-private exchange program for the acquisition workforce, E918 [15JY]

——— include dinnerware and stainless steel flatware in items required to be purchased from domestic companies, H5549, H5550 [10JY]

——— prohibit from contracting with companies that do not have a sexual harassment policy, H5653 [11JY]

——— prohibit funding to contract with any company that is a subsidiary of a company with Chinese controlling interest, H5320 [10JY]

——— prohibit funding to enter into any contract, grant, or cooperative agreement with any Trump Organization-related business, H5633, H5634 [11JY]

——— require Office of Inspector General to audit sole source contracts with depot maintenance centers, H5654 [11JY], E960 [23JY]

Dept. of Homeland Security: clarify requirements for procurement of certain national security frontline operational components (H.R. 2083), H4370–H4372 [10JN]

——— establish Acquisition Review Board (H.R. 2609), H4372, H4373 [10JN], E750 [11JN]

——— establish Mentor-Protégé Program (H.R. 4727), H9370, H9371 [9DE]

——— provide for requirements relative to documentation for major acquisition programs (H.R. 1912), H3759–H3761 [14MY]

Dept. of Labor: clarify use of subminimum wage relative to certain contracts, H7123 [18JY]

Dept. of State: expand opportunities for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses to compete for grants and contracts, H4686 [13JN]

——— provide additional visas for Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program (H.R. 2796), E614 [16MY]

Dept. of State, foreign operations, and related programs: prohibit funding to enter into any contract, grant, or cooperative agreement with any Trump Organization-related business, H4677 [13JN]

Dept. of the Interior: contract with National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to complete ‘‘Review and Update of Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Offshore Oil and Gas Operations Inspection Program’’ study, H7631, H7632 [11SE]

Dept. of Transportation: Federal-aid highway program contract authority rescission funding, H9039 [19NO]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: encourage use of design-build construction method for construction projects (H.R. 3996), H8760, H8761 [12NO]

——— expedite construction of previously authorized medical clinic in Bakersfield, CA, H5013 [21JN]

——— give preference to companies that employ veterans when awarding contracts for procurement of goods or services (H.R. 2109), H5045, H5046 [24JN]

——— provide for an exception to certain departmental small business contracting requirements relative to procurement of certain goods and services covered under the Ability One program (H.R. 4920), H10270, H10271 [16DE], H10605 [17DE]

——— submit a plan to address certain high risk areas identified by GAO relative to acquisition management (H.R. 4477), H8751–H8753 [12NO], H8793 [13NO]

Employment: extend Federal antidiscrimination protections to individuals who perform work for employers as independent contractors (H.R. 4235), E1092 [6SE]

Federal agencies and departments: guarantee back pay to federally-contracted retail, food, custodial, and security service workers furloughed during a Government shutdown (H.R. 339), E20 [8JA]

——— prohibit funding used in contravention of the Executive Order relative to buy American preference requirements, H5016, H5017 [21JN]

——— prohibit request for criminal history information from employment applicants until conditional offer stage and report on employment statistics of formerly incarcerated individuals (H.R. 1076), H8205 [17OC], H8288 [21OC]

——— provide back pay to Federal contractors impacted by lapse in appropriations, H2009 [14FE]

Federal employees: allow penalty-free distributions from retirement accounts in the case of Federal employees and certain Federal contractors impacted by the Federal Government shutdown (H.R. 545), H2009 [14FE]

——— tribute, E169 [13FE]

Financial institutions: call for banking and consumer agencies to work with customers affected by the Government shutdown to address short-term financial hardship and long-term creditworthiness damage (H. Res. 77), H1264–H1267, H1269 [29JA], H7806 [19SE]

FTC: study role of intermediaries in the pharmaceutical supply chain and merger activity and provide Congress with appropriate policy recommendations (H.R. 2376), H3455 [7MY]

GAO: investigate Corp of Engineers contracting practices relative to enforcement of payment of prevailing wages at Federal construction projects, H5691 [11JY], E913 [12JY]

Government: reimburse employees of the Federal Government, District of Columbia, Federal contractors, and States for certain costs incurred as a result of a Government shutdown (H.R. 1016), H1397 [7FE]

Infrastructure Week: designate (H. Res. 380), H3772, H3773 [14MY]

——— observance, H3826 [15MY]

Johnstown, PA: tribute to Showcase for Commerce business trade show and defense contract exhibit, H4225 [4JN]

Navy: require adherence to competitive procedures to enable small and medium defense contractors to compete for contracts, H5659 [11JY]

New Mexico: tribute to organizations assisting furloughed workers and contractors during Federal Government shutdown, H1319 [30JA]

Northern Mariana Islands: reform immigration policies (H.R. 559), H4201–H4203 [3JN]

Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction: tribute to ongoing role in identifying and reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, H4649 [13JN]

Political campaigns: restore provision that bars Government contractors from disclosing campaign contributions as part of the bidding process, H2484, H2485 [6MR]

Political ethics: prohibit the President, Vice President, and Cabinet members from contracting with the Federal Government, H5557, H5558 [10JY]

SBA: eliminate inclusion of option years in award price for sole source contracts (H.R. 190), H528–H531 [14JA], H664 [16JA]

——— include best in class designations in annual report on small business goals (H.R. 226), H270, H271 [8JA]

——— specify what credit is given for certain subcontractors and provide a dispute process for non-payment to subcontractors (H.R. 227), H271–H273 [8JA]

Senate: make technical corrections to computation of average pay for certain Senate restaurant employees (S. 1436), H3911 [16MY]

Telecommunications: prohibit use of Federal funds to purchase communications equipment or services posing national security risks and provide reimbursement for replacement of equipment or services posing such risks (H.R. 4998), H10282–H10286 [16DE], E1599 [17DE]

——— require greater transparency in fees and services from cable and Internet providers, H2327 [5MR]

——— require phone, cable, and Internet providers to include all charges in the prices they advertise for service and provide remedies for consumers that have been wrongfully charged, E1577 [11DE]

Whistleblowing: express that Congress, executive branch agencies, and the President have a duty to protect the identities of whistleblowers and safeguard whistleblowers from retaliation, H8829, H8832 [14NO]

Remarks in Senate

Appropriations: require Federal agencies conduct annual audit and report financial assessments, S6880 [5DE]

Brunow Contracting, LLC: tribute, S2768 [9MY]

Coast Guard: making continuing appropriations (S. 21), S20 [3JA], S25 [4JA], S57 [8JA], S118 [10JA], S159 [11JA], S291 [17JA], S2860 [15MY]

Construction industries: prohibit use of reverse auctions for design and construction services procurements (S. 1434), S7229 [19DE]

Courts: eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, civil rights, and antitrust cases (S. 610), S5864 [17OC]

Dept. of Defense: assess failed financial audit and improve financial accountability, S6880 [5DE]

Dept. of Transportation: establish a competitive grant program to repair, improve, rehabilitate, or replace bridges and improve safety, efficiency, and reliability of movement of people and freight over bridge crossings, S5172 [30JY]

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, S3825 [19JN]

——— improve procurement practices (S. 341), S6592 [14NO]

Federal agencies and departments: clarify inclusion of subcontractors and subgrantees for whistleblower protection (S. 2315), S5218 [31JY]

——— guarantee back pay to federally-contracted retail, food, custodial, and security service workers furloughed during a Government shutdown, S6212–S6216 [29OC]

——— guarantee back pay to federally-contracted retail, food, custodial, and security service workers furloughed during a Government shutdown (S. 162), S675 [25JA], S688 [28JA], S725 [29JA], S903–S907 [6FE], S1290 [13FE], S1350, S1351 [14FE]

——— OMB delay of implementation of law prohibiting using or contracting with an entity that uses certain telecommunications services or equipment, S3302 [11JN]

——— reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, S2845–S2847 [15MY]

FEMA: ensure more effective use and management of advance contracts for goods and services in areas affected by disasters by incorporating GAO recommendations on such contracts (S. 979), S6484 [7NO]

FTC: study role of intermediaries in the pharmaceutical supply chain and merger activity and provide Congress with appropriate policy recommendations (S. 1227), S4488 [25JN], S4753 [10JY], S5177 [30JY]

Israel: exempt certain small business contracts from efforts to allow State and local governments to divest from entities engaging in boycott, divestment, or sanctions activities targeting Israel, S851 [5FE]

National Whistleblower Appreciation Day: designate (S. Res. 194), S5018 [23JY], S5151 [30JY]

——— observance, S5218 [31JY]

Northern Mariana Islands: reform immigration policies (H.R. 559), S4195 [20JN]

SBA: eliminate inclusion of option years in award price for sole source contracts (S. 673), S2726 [8MY]

Senate: make technical corrections to computation of average pay for certain Senate restaurant employees (S. 1436), S2793 [13MY]

Taxation: provide a safe harbor for income and employment tax purposes for determinations of worker classifications as independent contractors versus employees and increase reporting under such safe harbor (S. 700), S5029 [24JY]

Telecommunications: prohibit use of Federal funds to purchase communications equipment or services posing national security risks and provide reimbursement for replacement of equipment or services posing such risks (H.R. 4998), S7178, S7180 [19DE]

Venezuela: prohibit contracting with persons that have business operations with the Maduro regime (S. 1151), S7075 [17DE]

——— prohibit contracting with persons that have business operations with the Maduro regime (S. 1151), unanimous-consent agreement, S3069 [23MY]

Whistleblowing: ensure whistleblowers who are Government employees or contractors receive adequate protection (S. 2798), unanimous-consent request, S6428–S6430 [6NO]

——— express that Congress, executive branch agencies, and the President have a duty to protect the identities of whistleblowers and safeguard whistleblowers from retaliation (S. Res. 408), S6427 [6NO], S6455, S6464 [7NO]

——— express that Congress, executive branch agencies, and the President have a duty to protect the identities of whistleblowers and safeguard whistleblowers from retaliation (S. Res. 408), unanimous-consent request, S6428 [6NO]

Reports filed

Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment (BRAVE) Act: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (House) (H.R. 2109) (H. Rept. 116–117), H4769 [18JN]

Consideration of H.R. 1423, Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 558) (H. Rept. 116–210), H7752 [17SE]

Construction Consensus Procurement Improvement Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 1434) (S. Rept. 116–100), S5407 [10SE]

Dept. of Homeland Security Mentor-Protégé Program Act: Committee on Homeland Security (House) (H.R. 4727) (H. Rept. 116–310), H9174 [22NO]

DHS Acquisition Reform Act: Committee on Homeland Security (House) (H.R. 3413) (H. Rept. 116–190), H7527 [30AU]

DHS Acquisition Review Board Act: Committee on Homeland Security (House) (H.R. 2609) (H. Rept. 116–96), H4180 [30MY]

Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 1706) (S. Rept. 116–116), S5663 [24SE]

Fair Chance To Compete for Jobs Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 387) (S. Rept. 116–33), S2385 [10AP]

Fair Compensation for Low-Wage Contractor Employees Act: Committee on Environment and Public Works (Senate) (S. 163) (S. Rept. 116–2), S1436 [25FE]

Federal Advance Contracts Enhancement (FACE) Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 979) (S. Rept. 116–84), S5406 [10SE]

Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 1423) (H. Rept. 116–204), H7711 [13SE]

Homeland Procurement Reform (HOPR) Act: Committee on Homeland Security (House) (H.R. 2083) (H. Rept. 116–90), H4179 [30MY]

Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 734) (S. Rept. 116–112), S5628 [23SE]

Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House) (H.R. 367) (H. Rept. 116–110), H4431 [11JN]

Prescription Pricing for the People Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 1227), S4676 [28JN]

Repeal Rescission of Funds in Federal-Aid Highway Program Contract Authority: Committee on Environment and Public Works (Senate) (S. 1992), S5247 [31JY]

Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 4998) (H. Rept. 116–352), H10305 [16DE]

Secure Federal Leases From Espionage and Suspicious Entanglements (Secure Federal LEASEs) Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 1869) (S. Rept. 116–92), S5406 [10SE]

Securing the Homeland Security Supply Chain Act: Committee on Homeland Security (House) (H.R. 3320) (H. Rept. 116–188), H7524 [27AU]

Unlocking Opportunities for Small Businesses Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (S. 5146) (H. Rept. 116–361), H12289 [19DE]

Venezuelan Contracting Restriction Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 1151) (S. Rept. 116–85), S5406 [10SE]

Resolutions by organizations

GSA Capital Investment and Leasing Program: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House), H3552–H3658 [9MY], H7934–H7961 [25SE]

Summaries

Dept. of Veterans Affairs Contracting Preference Consistency Act (H.R. 4920), E1597–E1599 [17DE]

Texts of

H. Res. 77, call for banking and consumer agencies to work with customers affected by the Government shutdown to address short-term financial hardship and long-term creditworthiness damage, H1264 [29JA]

H. Res. 558, consideration of H.R. 1423, Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act, H7761 [18SE]

H.R. 190, Expanding Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses Act, H528 [14JA]

H.R. 226, Clarity on Small Business Participation in Category Management Act, H270 [8JA]

H.R. 227, Incentivizing Fairness in Subcontracting Act, H271 [8JA]

H.R. 559, Northern Mariana Islands Long-Term Legal Residents Relief Act, H4201 [3JN]

H.R. 1423, Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act, H7848 [20SE]

H.R. 1912, DHS Acquisition Documentation Integrity Act, H3759 [14MY]

H.R. 2083, Homeland Procurement Reform (HOPR) Act, H4370 [10JN]

H.R. 2109, Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment (BRAVE) Act, H5045 [24JN]

H.R. 2609, DHS Acquisition Review Board Act, H4372 [10JN]

H.R. 3996, VA Design-Build Construction Enhancement Act, H8760 [12NO]

H.R. 4356, Protecting Families of Fallen Servicemembers Act, H8757 [12NO]

H.R. 4477, Reducing High Risk to Veterans and Veterans Services Act, H8752 [12NO]

H.R. 4727, Dept. of Homeland Security Mentor-Protégé Program Act, H9370 [9DE]

H.R. 4998, Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, H10282–H10285 [16DE]

S. 21, Coast Guard continuing appropriations, S27 [4JA]

S. 700, New Economy Works To Guarantee Independence and Growth (NEW GIG) Act, S1736–S1738 [7MR]

S. 979, Federal Advance Contracts Enhancement (FACE) Act, S6484 [7NO]

S. 1434, Construction Consensus Procurement Improvement Act, S7229 [19DE]

S. 1436, computation of average pay for certain Senate restaurant employees technical corrections, S2791, S2793 [13MY]

S. 2139, American Business for American Companies Act, S4909–S4911 [17JY]

S. 2990, Freedom From Government Competition Act, S6893 [5DE]

S. Res. 194, National Whistleblower Appreciation Day, S2746 [8MY]

S. Res. 408, express that Congress, executive branch agencies, and the President have a duty to protect the identities of whistleblowers and safeguard whistleblowers from retaliation, S6451 [6NO]