House Letter on Amendments to the 2006 Defense Authorization Bill
The Honorable Duncan Hunter
Chairman
Committee on Armed Services
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
As you engage in full committee markup of the FY 2006 National Defense Authorization bill, we urge you to oppose any amendment that will impose unnecessary and burdensome barriers on the competitive sourcing program at the Department of Defense (DoD). Language enacting barriers to competitive sourcing procedures would limit the ability of DoD to make reasoned decisions that benefit the armed services, the American taxpayer, and our national security.
One such amendment that may be offered would prohibit DoD from taking advantage of cost savings that result from private sector firms utilizing innovative health benefits and medical plans. This onerous provision would adversely impact small businesses, which routinely utilize novel, though not inferior, benefit packages in order to control costs, while attracting quality employees. With all the irregularities and differences in health benefits and medical plans, a direct comparison is difficult to impossible to determine, forcing government officials to make an unnecessary subjective decision.
Please oppose all anti-competitive sourcing language, as it would drive up operation and personnel costs, decrease efficiencies and innovation, and shut the door on businesses, particularly small enterprises, that are vying for a share of government contracts. The competitive sourcing process is far from slanted toward the private sector—federal employees win 90% of competitions—thus businesses do not need any other hindrances to entering into competitions.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses of every size, sector, and region. We respectfully urge you to support efficient government through opposing any anti-competitive sourcing amendments in the FY06 National Defense Authorization bill.
Sincerely,
R. Bruce Josten
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