On the recordApril 28, 2010
I certainly rise in agreement with the maker of the amendment that we need to get the best value for the American taxpayers when it comes to the acquisition of goods and services. I do want to express a concern, however, that sometimes getting the best value may mean paying more for a superior product or service, especially when it comes to the complex technological requirements of the equipment of our men and women in the American Armed Forces. There may be legitimate cases where the cost, the price of a good or service, is less important than other factors. Probably a good example of that is pretty recently the acquisition of MRAPs and body armor that certainly have saved the lives of our courageous troops. A concern that I think we need to weigh here is just that this may be a little premature, this specific amendment, because a similar amendment was included in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act.
