Letter to House of Representatives to Support Fair Government Contracting Practices

September 14, 2004

TO MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation representing more than three million organizations of all sizes, sectors and regions, urges you to support fair, efficient government contracting procedures during floor consideration of H.R. 5025, the Fiscal Year 2005 Transportation, Treasury, and General Government Appropriations Act. In particular, we respectfully urge you to oppose an amendment to be offered by Representative Van Hollen that would severely impair the ability of federal agencies to effectively manage their missions and workforce needs.

The Van Hollen amendment would prohibit the use of the newly revised OMB Circular A-76 process, developed after three years of thorough review and the consideration of input from all interested parties. Adoption of this amendment would represent a reversal that will disadvantage agencies and the taxpayer by requiring reliance on a process that simply did not work and lacked credibility. The new Circular was designed to produce increased transparency, savings, and improved performance and accountability. Reverting to the old process or halting competitions until a new process is formulated wLould increase costs, decrease efficiencies and innovation, and shut the door on the private sector, particularly small businesses, vying for a share of government contracts.

Accordingly, we urge you to support a fair, efficient government contracting process by opposing this or any other amendment to the FY05 Transportation, Treasury Appropriations bill that would hinder efficient competitive sourcing activities. Because of the importance of this issue to America's businesses, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce may consider using this vote in our annual "How They Voted" 2004 ratings.

Sincerely,

R. Bruce Josten
Executive Vice President, Government Affairs
U.S. Chamber of Commerce