In the News

Six bipartisan amendments sponsored by Congressman Gerry Connolly were adopted by the House of Representatives to the National Defense Authorization (NDAA) Act. Connolly’s amendments addressed federal IT procurement reform, foreign assistance, improvements for small business, and national security.

Issa-Connolly Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA): This amendment reforms the process by which Federal agencies procure products and services related to information technology.

“The federal government purchases approximately $80 billion in IT products annually. This bipartisan amendment will create an efficient and effective federal IT procurement system that best serves agencies, industry, and most importantly, the American taxpayer.”

Connolly, Wolf, Schneider: Requires that the report authorized by section 1242 of the NDAA include information on how the Egyptian military is supporting the rights of individuals involved in civil society and democratic promotion efforts through nongovernmental organizations.

Connolly, Granger, Diaz-Balart, Gingrey, Sires, Carter: This amendment directs the President to sell sixty-six F-16 C/D aircraft to Taiwan.

“Our bipartisan amendment is critical to America’s strategic economic and defense partnerships with Taiwan, which is our 9^th largest trading partner,” Rep. Connolly said. “It will ensure Taiwan has the necessary tools to defend itself from regional threats, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979.”

Connolly-Poe: Authorizes up to 5% of humanitarian assistance program funds to be used for monitoring and evaluation of said programs. Requires a Congressional briefing 90 days after enactment describing, among other things, how the Department evaluates program and project outcomes and impact, including cost effectiveness and whether the programs met their goals.

Hanna, Graves, Shuster, Hunter, Connolly: Enhances opportunities for small businesses by adding an incentive for prime federal contractors to consider smalls firms for subcontracts.

DeLauro, Granger, Moran, James, Kingston, Ellison, Wolf, Connolly: Prohibits the Defense Department from continuing to purchase equipment from the Russian arms dealer Rosoboronexport unless the Secretary of Defense certifies that the firm is cooperating with a Defense Contract Audit Agency audit, not delivering S-300 missile defense batteries to Syria, and that no new contracts have been signed by the firm with Syria since January 1, 2013. It also provides a national security waiver with a requirement that the Secretary justify the waiver in a report to Congress 30 days prior to the purchase of any equipment from Rosoboronexport.