Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 5366, the Overseas Contractor Reform Act. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform over the years has uncovered numerous instances in which government continued doing business with bad actors. This legislation will augment the U.S. government's efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in contracting. It will ensure that we are awarding contracts and grants only to parties with integrity. The bill requires a Federal agency to propose for debarment from receiving any new grants or contracts a person or entity found in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act makes it a crime to offer a bribe to a foreign official for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business from a foreign government. Since the passage of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the fraud section of the Department of Justice has prosecuted individuals and entities accused of bribing foreign officials. These parties are now subject to fines, and although proposed debarment was already a possible consequence, this bill sends the message that Congress, without question, desires agencies to take administrative action against parties convicted of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. This bill also provides agencies with a modicum of flexibility.…”