Issa and Graves Statements on Bipartisan Letter from U.S. Senators Rejecting Executive Order to Politicize Procurement - United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability

Washington, DC – House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa and Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves issued the following statements on a letter sent today by a bipartisan group of Senators including Rob Portman (R- Ohio), Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) opposing the President’s executive order which would require all federal contracting agencies to collect information about political speech activities by potential contractors. Today, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Small Business Committee will hear testimony from White House Procurement Policy Director Daniel Gordon at a 1:30 pm hearing on the anticipated order.

“With a now bipartisan outcry against an order which would put politics before the best interest of our taxpayers, the Administration needs to provide candid answers and has an opportunity to do so at today’s hearing,” said Chairman Issa. “Concerns that this executive order that will have a chilling effect on contractors who fear a corrupt Chicago-style spoils system where contracts are tied to partisan political affiliations are very real. President Obama would be wrong to try and ignore this clear and bipartisan opposition.”

“I applaud the Democrats in the Senate and House who have now spoken out against this political executive order,” said Chairman Graves. “Our federal government shouldn’t be asking who’s a Democrat and who’s a Republican in the procurement process. They ought to be asking who can get the job done well and for the least amount of taxpayer money.”

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Oversight Committee Member Gerry Connolly (R-VA) have also expressed concerns about the executive order.

Today’s hearing is to be held at 1:30 in Rayburn 2154 and features testimony from a wide variety of voices including:

• Daniel Gordon, Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, The Office of Management and Budget

• Alan Chvotkin, Executive Vice President and Counsel, Professional Services Council

• D. Mark Renaud, Partner Wiley Rein, LLP

• Bradley Smith, Josiah H. Blackmore II / Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law Capital University Law School

• M.L. Mackey, CEO, Beacon Interactive Systems (testifying on behalf of the National Defense Industrial Association)

• Marion Blakey, CEO, Aerospace Industries Association

• Lawrie Hollingsworth, President, Asset Recovery Technologies, Inc.

Click here for more info on today’s hearing including testimony and opening statements.

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Issa and Graves Letter	Document

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Issa and Graves Letter

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