Bobby Scott: “section 7 limits the ability of FPI and State Prison Industries programs to do services and reflects the reality that…”

“section 7 limits the ability of FPI and State Prison Industries programs to do services and reflects the reality that promoting competition is not what proponents of FPI want. Presently, there is no mandatory source on services as opposed to products, and so straight competition is the only way that FPI can get a service contract. The bill will limit the ability of FPI to get service contracts and actually eliminate the ability of State prison service programs in State prisons. The mandatory source in products is being eliminated in the bill. Restricting FPI's ability to continue to perform service contracts as it does now with no particular replacement will only serve to further replace inmate work opportunities. There appears to be no justification for prohibiting States from continuing their service contracts in a bill designed to reform the Federal Prison Industry program. I am told by Delco Remy, an international company which contracts with State and Federal inmates to break down auto parts for reusable materials to produce new auto parts, I have been told by that company that 600 law-abiding Virginians, along with 300 State and Federal inmates, will lose their jobs as a direct result of this bill, and about the same number of law-abiding citizens and State and Federal inmates in South Carolina will lose their jobs.”