Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) offered an amendment to H.R. 4870, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2015, to ensure a fair and open bidding process to supply our men and women on the frontlines with Michigan made military grade boots.
Due to unintended consequences resulting from the Small Business Administration's changes to the small business size standards, this would have disqualified Michigan companies from bidding on contracts, causing these businesses to lay off employees and threaten closure of the companies all together. The goal of the amendment is to promote competition, fairness, and consistency in the defense procurement process.
The amendment was unanimously adopted, and H.R. 4870 passed by a vote of 340 to 73. Below are Congressman Huizenga's remarks from the House floor during debate over his amendment.
Remarks as Prepared:
I rise today to offer an amendment that will ensure a fair and open bidding process to supply our men and women on the front lines with one of the most indispensable pieces of equipment they use every day – their boots.
My amendment would prohibit the use of funds by the Defense Logistics Agency to implement the 2012 Small Business Administration's Interim Rule in regards to footwear, preventing the Defense Logistics Agency from bidding the contract as a small business set-aside.
When SBA released this new rule, there was significant concern that they did not go through the normal rulemaking and public comment processes and, more specifically, did not perform due diligence on how the changes would actually effect the footwear industry and military supply base, which the SBA has acknowledged.
This rule dramatically changed the competitive landscape amongst companies supplying Berry Compliant footwear to the U.S. Military.
There are very few footwear manufacturers in the United States, and even fewer that manufacture Berry Compliant footwear. Any reduction in this industrial base calls for immediate action to rectify the unintended consequences resulting from SBA's changes to the small business size standards categories governing domestic footwear manufacturing for the U.S. Military.
Congress has addressed the rule’s impacts on defense procurement in the House Report to the FY14 National Defense Authorization, which expressed concern the SBA did not follow the normal rulemaking and public comment procedures and has not subsequently addressed the issue with footwear manufacturers. It then called on the Defense Logistics Agency to use its discretion to maintain the manufacturer base.
This amendment would essentially codify that report language, ensuring that all businesses capable of supplying high-quality footwear to the Department of Defense.
This amendment promotes competition. It promotes fairness and consistency in the defense procurement process. And, most importantly, it ensures our men and women in uniform have access, regardless of who makes it, to the best equipment available.
I urge my colleagues to support this vital amendment, and with that, I reserve the balance of my time.
