Outsourcing Fight Continues In Congress—ACEC Working To Defeat New Amendments

The Amendments
Rep. Al Wynn (D-Md.) will offer a TRAC-like amendment to the F.Y. 2003 Treasury-Postal Appropriations Bill that seeks to suspend outsourcing in the agencies funded under this legislation. Wynn is the author of the TRAC bill in the House and offered a similar amendment last year during the appropriations process, which ACEC and its allies defeated.

While the Wynn amendment aims to bring government contracting to a grinding halt, Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) will offer an amendment to this legislation that seeks to halt the Bush administration's efforts to open up more government functions to competition from private industry. Although the Moran Amendment was rejected during committee consideration of the bill, the vote next week is likely to be very close. Similar language was inserted into the Senate version of the bill by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.).

OMB Director Mitch Daniels has indicated that he will recommend that the president veto the Treasury-Postal Appropriations Bill if these amendments are included in the final version.

Action Needed
ACEC members need to contact their representatives and senators and urge them to oppose these damaging amendments, particularly the TRAC-like Wynn Amendment.

Click HERE to send a letter to your representative. Click HERE to send a letter to your senator.

New Mexico Congressional Delegation Backs ACEC's Outsourcing Position

(L to R) Camille Fleenor, Diane Snyder, Rep. Heather Wilson and Tom Ahneman discuss outsourcing and procurement issues during a private meeting in Washington, D.C..

Sen. Domenici is working closely with ACEC on government competi-tion issues, agreeing to resolve ACEC's concerns regarding the Bureau of Reclamation's practice of competing with private engineering firms during the F.Y. 2003 appropriations process. The legislation is expected to be approved by the Senate this month.

Rep. Wilson expressed support for ACEC's outsourcing-related efforts with the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey, discussing some possible options for keeping the two agencies from competing with private engineering firms for work.

In addition, Wilson addressed ACEC's concerns that the new Homeland Security Agency will be exempted from federal procurement regulations. The New Mexico lawmaker indicated that the House has agreed to require that the agency abide by federal regulations, including QBS.

"The Procurement Advocacy Committee is fiercely committed to stopping the continued expansion of government competition," Snyder said. "We are pleased that our relationship with New Mexico's congressional delegation—who support us in this battle—benefits all ACEC member firms."

House And Senate To Restore Highway Funding—Key ACEC Priority

The agreement will bring overall funding for highways to a minimum of $27.7 billion in 2003, the level authorized in TEA-21. With this funding level set, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are slated to begin work on their respective transportation spending bills next week.

ACEC citizen lobbyists wrote over 2,000 letters to their members of Congress urging them to support higher funding.

The breakthrough occurred yesterday, when conferees on the F.Y. 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Bill agreed to an overall spending level of $28.9 billion.

Some $200 million in direct funding is also provided for Amtrak. The measure is now clear for a vote by the House and Senate next week.

ACEC, NSPE Sign MOU That Plays To Strengths

The agreement was signed by ACEC Chairman Dan DeYoung, ACEC President Dave Raymond, NSPE President Daniel Clinton, Jr., and NSPE Executive Director Patrick Natale.

"This agreement clearly recognizes the major areas of focus for both organizations," DeYoung said. "As called for under the new strategic plan, it asks ACEC to take the lead as the industry's primary legislative advocate and re-source for business practice information."

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