Byron Donalds: “I would be remiss without thanking Chairman Comer for the time on the floor today, and I might have to ask the chairman…”

“I would be remiss without thanking Chairman Comer for the time on the floor today, and I might have to ask the chairman to introduce me everywhere going forward. I greatly appreciate that. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bill, the Safe and Smart Federal Purchasing Act. For background, lowest price technically acceptable is the source selection method outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR. Simply put, the LPTA FAR standard prioritizes price above everything else. Focusing on price, instead of other technical or operational factors in Federal procurement, can result in agencies cutting corners, long- term value being sacrificed, or in its worse aspects, even potential risks to America's national security. In my view, the use of the LPTA may not always be appropriate when Federal agencies purchase innovative technologies and technical services, and agencies should have the flexibility to pay more for a superior solution if the circumstances are appropriate. I will say to the American people that, obviously with all of the things that we are talking about in Washington around the Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE, going through and trying to cut costs, we do have to be mindful that we are getting the best products for the Federal Government to use because that actually does yield great results for the American people.…”