Brad Ellsworth: “this amendment seeks to ensure that none of the funds appropriated in this bill may be used to enter into a contract…”

“this amendment seeks to ensure that none of the funds appropriated in this bill may be used to enter into a contract greater than the simplified acquisition threshold unless the prospective contractor certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract that the contractor owes no Federal tax debt. The Federal Acquisition Regulation already requires prospective contractors to certify within a 3-year period preceding the offer that they have not been convicted or had a civil judgment rendered against them for the various legal infractions such as tax evasion, forgery and bribery. This amendment simply adds the following three tax debt-related offenses: the prospective contractor must certify that they, one, have or have not been convicted of a civil judgment rendered against the contractor for violating tax law or failing to pay any tax; two, have or have not been notified of any delinquent taxes for which the liability remains unsatisfied; and, three, have or have not received a tax notice or tax lien filed against the contractor for which the liability remains unsatisfied or for which the lien has not been released. Mr. Chairman, my constituents, like many of yours, sent me to Washington to ensure their tax dollars are spent wisely. And I guard their tax dollars wisely.”