Political Quotes

“I thank Mr. Bacon for introducing this good government legislation. It is a protransparency bill, and it addresses an often overlooked problem facing small Federal construction contractors. He has been a leader on this issue, and we appreciate that very much because it is an important bill. Our Federal Government spends billions of dollars on construction annually, an industry that is critical to rebuilding our Nation's aging infrastructure. Small businesses are the lifeblood of construction, performing in various roles across the entire supply chain. Unfortunately, no construction project is immune to change. Contract modifications or change orders are prevalent in construction contracts--in fact, in virtually all construction contracts. The issue arises when the Federal agency delays executing a change order or issuing payment for the work completed. This leaves the small contractor responsible for financing the work out-of-pocket while also paying for overhead costs. Extended delays in payment can result in severe financial consequences, sometimes including bankruptcy for small contractors. Agencies currently do not publish information regarding their contract modification processes or payment records, leaving contractors basically in the dark.…”