CONTRACTS

Amendments

SBA: expand Surety Bond Guarantee program (S. 2232), S2108 [29AP]

Whistleblowing: ensure whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when Federal employee orders reprisal (S. 874), S2100 [29AP]

Bills and resolutions

Amtrak: prohibit inclusion of mandatory arbitration clauses in contracts of carriage (see S. 4572), S2373 [19MY] (see H.R. 8888), H3626 [19MY]

Antitrust policy: specify standards governing claims of consciously parallel pricing coordination in civil actions and clarify meaning of contract, combination in form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy (see H.R. 8633), H3330 [30AP]

Armed Forces: modify treatment of nondisclosure agreements relative to privatized military housing and expand protection from retaliation against tenants of such housing (see S. 4718), S2698 [9JN] (see H.R. 9220), H4053 [9JN]

Business and industry: enhance private sector outreach in support of Defense Production Act (see H.R. 8038), H2674 [24MR]

——— permit voluntary economic coordination, cooperation, agreement, or other association, compact, contract, or covenant entered into by or between any individual or group of individuals (see S. 3638), S220 [14JA]

——— prohibit surrogacy agencies from facilitating surrogacy contracts with sex offenders (see H.R. 9131), H3829 [3JN]

CFTC: modernize regulatory framework for event contracts and prediction markets (see S. 4469), S2171 [30AP]

——— prohibit certain event contracts involving sports and casino-style games (see S. 4160), S1544 [23MR]

——— prohibit certain event contracts on prediction markets (see S. 4226), S1668 [26MR] (see H.R. 8123), H2776 [26MR]

——— prohibit event contracts based on terrorism, assassination, war, gaming, illegal activity, or other activities contrary to public interest, and allow States to exempt themselves from prohibition on gaming contracts (see H.R. 7840), H2471 [5MR]

——— prohibit listing of contracts relating to war, death, and similar activities (see S. 4035), S958 [10MR] (see H.R. 7942), H2529 [16MR]

——— prohibit registered entities from engaging in transactions involving sporting event or casino-style gaming contracts (see H.R. 7477), H2118 [10FE]

——— require protection of proprietary information (see H.R. 8125), H2776 [26MR]

Colleges and universities: protect name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and promote fair competition in intercollegiate athletics (see S. 4668), S2496 [2JN] (see H.R. 9137), H3909 [4JN]

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: disapprove withdrawal of rule entitled ‘‘Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024–03—Unlawful and Unenforceable Contract Terms and Conditions’’ (see S.J. Res. 128), S1090 [17MR] (see H.J. Res. 185), H3453 [13MY]

Crime: prohibit enforcement of certain contractual clauses that restrict disclosure of sexual abuse of minors (see S. 3966), S762 [3MR] (see H.R. 8571), H3294 [29AP]

——— prohibit individuals convicted of crimes of violence from Federal employment and contracting with Government (see H.R. 7067), H893 [14JA]

Davis-Bacon Act: repeal wage rate requirements (see S. 4477), S2171 [30AP] (see H.R. 8602), H3329 [30AP]

Defense Production Act: modernize and reauthorize (see H.R. 7688), H2327 [25FE]

Dept. of Agriculture: enter into self-determination contracts with Tribal organizations to carry out food distribution program on Indian reservations (see S. 4785), S2784 [15JN]

Dept. of Defense: authorize to enter into multiyear contracts for procurement of F–35 and F–15EX aircraft (see S. 4374), S1935 [22AP]

——— authorize use of foreign military financing for direct commercial contracts (see H.R. 8649), H3336 [4MY]

——— improve transparency relative to foreign influence on Dept. of Defense contractors (see S. 4648), S2476 [1JN]

——— limit stock buybacks, shareholder dividends, and executive compensation for certain underperforming contractors (see H.R. 9215), H4052 [9JN]

——— prevent awarding of motor carrier cargo transportation contracts to carriers affiliated with Chinese military companies (see S. 4077), S1046 [12MR] (see H.R. 7924), H2482 [12MR]

——— prohibit from contracting with consulting firms providing services to Russia, China, and other countries of concern (see S. 4685), S2576 [4JN]

——— prohibit from contracting with retailers who use covered payment processing equipment, systems, or services connected to country of concern (see H.R. 8787), H3452 [13MY]

——— provide for secure and accountable use of artificial intelligence (AI) (see S. 4656), S2496 [2JN]

——— report on certain contracts and awards to small business concerns (see H.R. 7076), H893 [14JA]

——— require contractors to prioritize meeting warfighter needs over purchase of securities and executive compensation (see S. 4212), S1614 [25MR]

Dept. of HHS: enter into contracts with recovery audit contractors to perform prepayment reviews under Medicare (see H.R. 8804), H3453 [13MY]

Dept. of Homeland Security: enact moratorium on certain contracts relating to use and implementation of surveillance and data analytics technologies pending public audits and reporting requirements (see H.R. 9314), H4117 [15JN]

——— limit use of Federal contractors to perform certain enforcement activities under immigration laws (see H.R. 7161), H948 [20JA]

——— prohibit certain funds from being used to purchase warehouses, contract with owners of warehouses, or repurpose, operate, staff, or maintain any warehouse (see S. 3927), S706 [26FE]

——— prohibit from entering into, modifying, extending, or renewing, any contract or intergovernmental service agreement to establish or operate any new warehouse immigration detention model (see H.R. 8494), H3091 [23AP]

——— require to grant access to Members of Congress to covered facilities to carry out oversight responsibilities (see H.R. 8754), H3392 [12MY]

Dept. of Labor: clarify classification of service provider payees as employees or independent contractors (see S. 4010), S881 [5MR]

——— classify qualified locum tenens professionals and advanced care practitioners as independent contractors relative to Fair Labor Standards Act and National Labor Relations Act (see H.R. 8272), H2885 [14AP] (see H.R. 8347), H2959 [16AP]

Dept. of the Interior: impose certain conditions on mineral materials sales contracts and free use permits relative to large-scale mineral extraction projects located near urban communities (see H.R. 8773), H3393 [12MY]

Dept. of Transportation: prohibit from contracting with, or awarding grant to, entity that uses or procures light detection and ranging technology from certain foreign entities (see S. 4000), S881 [5MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: establish and maintain database of certified veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses to assist in meeting subcontracting goals (see H.R. 7795), H2419 [4MR]

——— improve temporary licensure requirements for contract health care professionals who perform medical disability examinations (see S. 3703), S290 [27JA]

——— prohibit from entering into contract pursuant to which contractor may sell sensitive personal information and ensure protection of personal information in certain contracts (see H.R. 7241), H1914 [27JA] (see H.R. 7280), H1920 [30JA]

——— recognize Women-Owned Small Business program in procurement hierarchy of small business preferences (see S. 3896), S650 [24FE]

District of Columbia: prohibit from appointing individuals convicted of crimes of violence or dangerous crimes as DC government employees or from entering into contracts with vendors who employ such individuals (see H.R. 7068), H893 [14JA]

FAA: issue regulations to include strollers in contract of carriage of air carriers and set liability limit for damaged strollers (see H.R. 8579), H3294 [29AP]

Federal Acquisition Security Council: reform (see H.R. 7274), H1920 [30JA]

Federal agencies and departments: end preferences for disadvantaged individuals and businesses in Government contracts (see S. 4390), S2052 [27AP] (see H.R. 8511), H3123 [27AP]

——— prohibit awarding of contracts to inverted domestic corporations (see S. 3811), S533 [9FE] (see H.R. 7424), H2094 [9FE]

——— prohibit Cabinet members from using taxpayer funds to run self-promoting ad campaigns and from hiring certain political consulting, marketing, and advertising firms (see S. 4128), S1205 [18MR]

——— prohibit heads of Federal agencies from entering into agreements with entities that discriminate against Federal law enforcement (see H.R. 7551), H2219 [12FE]

——— provide for appropriations to pay Federal employees and contractors during certain periods of lapses in appropriations (see H.R. 7322), H1948 [2FE]

——— submit to Made in America Office and Congress annual report on implementation of Build America, Buy America Act for infrastructure construction (see S. 4393), S2052 [27AP]

Federal employees: increase rates of pay for General Schedule and prevailing rate employees (see S. 3823), S552 [10FE] (see H.R. 7480), H2118 [10FE]

——— making appropriations to pay salaries of Federal employees, contract employees, and Armed Forces members during lapse in appropriations (see H.R. 7137), H924 [16JA]

Foreign countries: prevent citizens of foreign adversarial nations from entering into or enforcing surrogacy contracts in U.S. (see H.R. 7040), H717 [13JA]

——— prevent foreign nationals from entering into or enforcing surrogacy contracts in U.S. (see H.R. 9132), H3829 [3JN]

FTC: increase consumer protections relative to subscription-based negative option contract agreements entered into on Internet (see H.R. 7048), H718 [13JA]

Government: prohibit certain Federal officials, appointees, or employees from engaging in covered transactions involving prediction market contracts tied to Government policy, action, or political outcomes (see S. 4188), S1614 [25MR] (see H.R. 7004), H615 [9JA]

GSA: establish contracting preference for public buildings constructed of innovative wood products obtained from timber responsibly sourced from U.S. forest lands (see H.R. 9080), H3740 [29MY]

Indian Health Service: modify notification requirement for emergency contract health services for certain beneficiaries (see H.R. 8658), H3336 [4MY]

Insurance: ban anticompetitive terms in facility and insurance contracts that limit access to higher quality, lower cost care (see S. 4027), S915 [9MR]

Labor unions: accelerate workplace time-to-contract under National Labor Relations Act for new unions (H.R. 5408), consideration (see H. Res. 1140), H2777 [26MR]

National Park Service: authorize direct emergency acquisition flexibilities for contractor approval for clearing, rebuilding, maintenance, and improvement of Grand Canyon and Kaibab National Forest areas damaged by wildfires (see S. 3785), S509 [5FE]

OMB: amend time period for certain acquisition-related dollar thresholds (see H.R. 7283), H1920 [30JA]

Political campaigns: prohibit certain campaign-affiliated individuals from trading political event contracts while in possession of material nonpublic campaign information (see H.R. 8771), H3392 [12MY]

SBA: establish goal for participation by small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans in procurement contracts (see S. 3964), S762 [3MR] (see H.R. 7534), H2218 [12FE]

——— extend and modify assistance for administrative, oversight, and contract processing costs for Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (see H.R. 7217), H1349 [22JA]

——— modify dollar threshold for certain sole source contracts (see H.R. 7154), H947 [20JA]

——— require report on small business concern participation in covered contracting programs (see H.R. 8879), H3626 [19MY]

Sports: prohibit foreign investment relative to name, image, and likeness agreements (see H.R. 7403), H2040 [5FE]

Sudan: require agency reports on any procurement waiver made by U.S. President (see H.R. 8610), H3329 [30AP]

Taxation: exclude from gross income certain proceeds of shared appreciation mortgage contracts (see H.R. 8116), H2776 [26MR]

——— prevent abuse of life insurance tax rules (see S. 4279), S1712 [13AP]

——— require payroll tax withholding on independent contractors of certain large businesses (see H.R. 9114), H3774 [2JN]

Technology: prohibit certain Federal contracts with internationally owned software companies (see H.R. 7604), H2233 [20FE]

TSA: allow airport operators to enter into contracts with qualified private screening companies to carry out screening of passengers and property at airports (see H.R. 8151), H2790 [27MR]

Whistleblowing: ensure whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when Federal employee orders reprisal (see S. 4631), S2443 [21MY]

Letters

Faster Labor Contracts Act: Brian Bryant, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, H4016 [9JN]

——— G. Roger King, King Labor Law, and Alex MacDonald, Littler Mendelson Workplace Policy Institute, E573, E574, E575 [15JN]

——— Jody Calemine, AFL–CIO, H4015 [9JN]

——— John Samuelsen, Transport Workers Union of America, H4016 [9JN]

——— Kenneth W. Cooper, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, H4015 [9JN]

——— Matthew S. Biggs and Gay Henson, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, H4015 [9JN]

——— Randi Weingarten, American Federation of Teachers, H4033 [9JN]

——— Roxanne D. Brown, United Steelworkers (organization), H4016 [9JN]

——— Sean M. O’Brien, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, H4015 [9JN]

Motions

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: disapprove withdrawal of rule entitled ‘‘Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024–03—Unlawful and Unenforceable Contract Terms and Conditions’’ (S.J. Res. 128), S2270 [13MY]

Labor unions: accelerate workplace time-to-contract under National Labor Relations Act for new unions (H.R. 5408), consideration (H. Res. 1140), H4013 [9JN]

Remarks in House

CFTC: prohibit event contracts based on terrorism, assassination, war, gaming, illegal activity, or other activities contrary to public interest, and allow States to exempt themselves from prohibition on gaming contracts (H.R. 7840), H2588 [18MR]

Colleges and universities: restrict contracts with foreign countries of concern and foreign entities of concern, H713 [13JA]

Dept. of Homeland Security: prohibit from entering into, modifying, extending, or renewing, any contract or intergovernmental service agreement to establish or operate any new warehouse immigration detention model (H.R. 8494), H3326 [30AP]

Federal agencies and departments: identify individuals who commit certain Federal felonies implicating Federal programs as excluded source on System for Award Management Exclusions list (H.R. 6916), H3923–H3925 [8JN]

——— prohibit minimum experience or educational requirement for proposed contractor personnel in certain contract solicitations (H.R. 5235), H2247, H2248 [23FE]

Foreign countries: prevent citizens of foreign adversarial nations from entering into or enforcing surrogacy contracts in U.S. (H.R. 7040), H1162 [21JA]

GSA: establish contracting preference for public buildings constructed of innovative wood products obtained from timber responsibly sourced from U.S. forest lands (H.R. 9080), H4088 [11JN]

Labor unions: accelerate workplace time-to-contract under National Labor Relations Act for new unions (H.R. 5408), H4029–H4037 [9JN]

——— accelerate workplace time-to-contract under National Labor Relations Act for new unions (H.R. 5408), consideration (H. Res. 1140), H4014–H4017 [9JN]

——— accelerate workplace time-to-contract under National Labor Relations Act for new unions (H.R. 5408), consideration (H. Res. 1140)—motion to discharge, H4013 [9JN]

National Park Service: authorize direct emergency acquisition flexibilities for contractor approval for clearing, rebuilding, maintenance, and improvement of Grand Canyon grounds impacted by Dragon Bravo Fire (H.R. 5729), H2521–H2523 [16MR]

Navy: authorize to enter into contract for construction of submarine cable laying and repair ships (H.R. 4625), H2164 [11FE]

Oregon: PeaceHealth hospital decision to terminate contract with locally-based emergency care services, H2755 [26MR], H3466 [14MY], E274 [26MR]

Trump, President: evaluation of administration relative to Armed Forces, H617 [12JA]

Remarks in Senate

Budget: establish deficit-neutral reserve fund to study economic impact of confidential drug pricing agreements between Federal agencies and pharmaceutical manufacturers, S1917 [22AP]

Children and youth: ensure that businesses and organizations that work with vulnerable populations request background checks for contractors as well as for individuals that provide care for those populations (S. 1528), S1854 [21AP]

Colleges and universities: protect name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and promote fair competition in intercollegiate athletics (S. 4668), S2863–S2865 [16JN]

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: disapprove withdrawal of rule entitled ‘‘Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024–03—Unlawful and Unenforceable Contract Terms and Conditions’’ (S.J. Res. 128), motion to proceed, S2270, S2271 [13MY]

Crime: prohibit enforcement of certain contractual clauses that restrict disclosure of sexual abuse of minors (S. 3966), S2398–S2400 [20MY]

——— prohibit enforcement of certain contractual clauses that restrict disclosure of sexual abuse of minors (S. 3966), unanimous-consent agreement, S2399 [20MY]

Dept. of Justice: establish task force to investigate health insurance companies found to routinely deny and delay patients’ access to medically necessary care, S2552 [4JN]

False Claims Act: impact, S587 [12FE]

Indiana: tribute to defense industrial base contributions, S2658 [8JN]

SBA: expand Surety Bond Guarantee program (S. 2232), S2106–S2109 [29AP]

Whistleblowing: ensure compliance by Federal agencies with anti-gag provisions of whistleblower protection laws, S104 [8JA], S1171 [18MR]

——— ensure whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when Federal employee orders reprisal (S. 4631), S2452 [21MY]

——— ensure whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when Federal employee orders reprisal (S. 874), S2100–S2102 [29AP]

Reports filed

DPA Modernization Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 7688) (H. Rept. 119–611), H2923 [15AP]

Modern Worker Empowerment Act: Committee on Education and Workforce (House) (H.R. 1319) (H. Rept. 119–505), H2233 [20FE]

Modern Worker Security Act: Committee on Education and Workforce (House) (H.R. 1320) (H. Rept. 119–506), H2233 [20FE]

Oversight and Transparency for Small Business Certifications Act: Committee on Small Business (House) (H.R. 8879) (H. Rept. 119–680), H3828 [3JN]

Terminating Restrictive Enforcement of Youth Settlements (TREY’S) Law: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 3966), S2372 [19MY]

Resolutions by organizations

GSA Capital Investment and Leasing Program: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (House), H3868–H3873 [4JN]

Texts of

H. Res. 1140, consideration of H.R. 5408, Faster Labor Contracts Act, H4014 [9JN]

H.R. 5235, Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act, H2247 [23FE]

H.R. 5408, Faster Labor Contracts Act, H4029 [9JN]

H.R. 5729, North Rim Restoration Act, H2521 [16MR]

H.R. 6916, Federal Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act, H3923 [8JN]

S. 874, Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act, S2100 [29AP]

S. 1528, Comprehensive Health and Integrity in Licensing and Documentation (CHILD) Act, S1854 [21AP]

S. 2232, Expanding the Surety Bond Program Act, S2108 [29AP]

S. 3811, American Business for American Companies Act, S535–S537 [9FE]

S. 3966, Terminating Restrictive Enforcement of Youth Settlements (TREY’S) Law, S2399 [20MY]

S. 4631, Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act, S2452–S2454 [21MY]