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News

NECA Legislative Top Three 1/18/19: Amid Shutdown, NECA-Supported Procurement Bill Moves Forward

Jan 17, 2019

1.  House Passes Contracting Reform Legislation

Earlier this week, the House overwhelmingly passed a NECA-supported bill, H.R. 190, which seeks to allow for reasonable reform to determine whether contracting officers are accurately certifying businesses to receive sole-source contracts, and if these officers are properly classifying sole-source contracts. This bipartisan bill came from the House Small Business Committee which continues to remain a bright spot for bipartisan reform.

NECA’s Look Ahead: Legislation seeking to responsibly reform the federal contracting space is a welcomed effort. We will urge the Senate to rapidly take up this legislation and the others that have already passed the House on an expedited timeline.

2. Day 28 of the Partial Government Shutdown

This week the House has voted on H.J.Res.27 - Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019. This short-term Counting Resolution would open the nine closed departments and dozens of agencies through Feb. 1. This bill failed to gain the necessary two-thirds support required, under suspension of the rules, to pass the House. 

NECA’s Look Ahead: This partial shutdown is the longest shutdown of the federal government in history. Negotiations between the White House, the Senate and the House are deadlocked. The Senate remains opposed to using floor time to pass any bill that President Trump is expected to veto. It seems likely that a solution to end the shutdown will have to come from the Senate Democrats. NECA will continue to update its members on the situation.

3. Pelosi Seeks to Delay State of the Union Citing Security Concerns Amid Shutdown

On January 16, 2019, Speaker Pelosi sent a letter to the White House delaying her invitation for the President to give a Joint Address to Congress on the State of the Union on January 29, 2019 if the government is still in a partial shutdown.

NECA’s Look Ahead: In the letter, Speaker Pelosi cites security concerns for the event to take place during a partial shutdown. Both House Republican leadership and the Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen released statements in response in support of the President delivering a joint address.