Subject: Smith, Scott, and Cummings Oppose NDAA Amendment to Reward Pervasive Violators of Employment, Non-Discrimination, and Safety Laws with New Government Contracts
From: "Bryant, Rebecca" <[email-masked]>
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 15:29:45 +0000

From: Youngsmith, Barron
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2016 10:49 AM
To: Youngsmith, Barron
Subject: Smith, Scott, and Cummings Oppose NDAA Amendment to Reward Pervasive Violators of Employment, Non-Discrimination, and Safety Laws with New Government Contracts

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Contacts
Barron YoungSmith (Smith): 202.226.5662
Arika Trim (Scott): 202.226.0853
Fabion Seaton (Cummings): 202.225.4741

Smith, Scott, and Cummings Oppose NDAA Amendment to Reward Pervasive Violators of Employment, Non-Discrimination, and Safety Laws with New Government Contracts

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ranking Members Adam Smith, Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, and Elijah Cummings of, respectively, the House Armed Services Committee, the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform issued the following statements today after learning about forthcoming efforts to ban implementation of the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order<https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/31/executive-order-fair-pay-and-safe-workplaces> via an amendment in the FY 2017 Defense Authorization Act.

The Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order would require<https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/31/fact-sheet-fair-pay-and-safe-workplaces-executive-order> defense contractors who have committed serial violations of employment, safety, and minimum wage laws or serial discrimination based on race, gender, pregnancy, disability, or veterans status to disclose that they have done so to the government when applying for new contracts.

Ranking Member Smith made the following statement:

"We should not be making it easier for companies that violate labor, safety, or gender and racial equity laws to acquire government contracts. It is common sense that when the Defense Department or Nuclear Security Administration is choosing who it will work with, it should have sufficient information about any violations to know what it is getting into. Our labor and nondiscrimination laws exist to uphold the rights of Americans, and we need to stand up for those rights instead of trying to hide evidence that they have been violated. I will oppose any efforts to include language overriding this executive order in this National Defense Authorization Act."

Ranking Member Scott made the following statement:

"We are deeply concerned about possible amendments to limit the application of the Fair Pay and Safe Workplace Executive Order as part of the Fiscal Year 2017 Defense Authorization Act. This EO, when implemented, will improve the information available to contracting officers to identify companies which engage in repeated, willful or pervasive violations of employment, non-discrimination, labor, or workplace safety laws. Congress should reject any attempts to provide taxpayer dollars to companies who repeatedly flaunt federal workplace laws or deprive workers of their labor and civil rights."

Ranking Member Cummings made the following statement:

"It is extremely troubling that House Republicans are trying to pass a measure that would have the effect of encouraging corporate misconduct. The President's Executive Order establishes a fair and consistent process to ensure that federal contractors pay their workers what they earn, maintain a safe working environment, and do not discriminate on the bases of race, gender, or disability. This is simple common sense, and it should be celebrated and enforced, not criticized and overturned."

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Barron YoungSmith
Director of Communications / Counsel
House Armed Services Committee Democrats
Office: 202.226.5662 | Cell: 202.225.2083
2216 Rayburn House Office Building
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