PRICE Act of 2021

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 583) to promote innovative acquisition techniques and procurement strategies, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 583, the Promoting Rigorous and Innovative Cost Efficiencies for Federal Procurement and Acquisitions Act, or the PRICE Act.

This bipartisan bill was introduced by Chairman Gary Peters of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, along with Senators Ernst and Carper. I commend them for their bipartisan leadership, as well as Joe Neguse for leading the House companion bill.

Mr. Speaker, to meet its complex and critical missions in service of the American people, the Federal Government must ensure that its procurement practices make use of innovative approaches that maximize the ingenuity and opportunity of American small business.

These small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and the breeding ground for cutting edge solutions that can be transformative in government operations. Recognizing that the Department of Homeland Security has been a leader in small business utilization, the PRICE Act requires it to publish an annual report on the projects of its Procurement Innovation Lab.

Dedicated to improving the acquisition process within the construct of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the lab is a proving ground for innovative ideas and a forum for developing and sharing lessons learned and best practices.

Under the bill, the Department would be required to develop guidance and training on innovative procurement techniques for contracting and program management personnel, and to make these best practices available to other Federal agencies.

The bill would also convene the Chief Acquisition Officers Council to examine and report on best practices in acquisition innovation in Federal contracting, including through small business engagement, which is vital to keeping our industrial base strong and vibrant.

The report would include a review of the practices and technology applications with the greatest success in improving program outcomes, enhancing customer experience, and meeting the Federal Government's small business contracting goals. These goals cannot be a check-the-box exercise that provides opportunity to only a handful of companies. Rather, they must be about opening the doors of Federal contracting to as many small businesses as possible to expand our industrial base.

The PRICE Act will pave the way for more cohesive and widespread adoption of modernized business practices and advanced technologies across the Federal Government. It also has the power to advance the goals of the Small Business Act by creating greater opportunity for small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of S. 583, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the Federal procurement and acquisition process is often cumbersome, complex, and inefficient. Doing business with the Federal Government is expensive and time-consuming. In fact, many commercial vendors must hire staff who are responsible for understanding the Federal acquisition regulatory requirements just so they can do business with the government.

For small businesses with fewer resources, this is an even greater challenge. In reality, most small businesses are struggling to survive in the Biden economy, let alone trying to navigate complex procurement processes and regulations.

The Department of Homeland Security's Procurement Innovation Lab has issued reports stressing the need for innovative approaches to making Federal procurement more effective and efficient. Thankfully, the PRICE Act will help put those insights into action.

The PRICE Act requires DHS to develop department-wide guidance and training to improve procurement methods. These procurement best practices, which encourage reducing the time to award contracts, achieving cost savings, and better serving agency mission outcomes will be shared with other Federal agencies via a report.

Also under the PRICE Act, the Office of Management and Budget will convene a working group within the Chief Acquisition Officers Council to identify and disseminate government-wide best practices to modernize Federal contracting. Such best practices will focus on better utilizing small businesses, increasing procurement efficiency, improving program outcomes, and achieving a better customer experience at agencies.

The working group will provide its recommendations to Congress, which will help us identify and pursue smart procurement policy reforms. This is critical to ensure our Nation's Federal agencies can efficiently purchase the best products and services to serve the American people.

Mr. Speaker, this is not a Big Government bill. It is a big idea bill. The PRICE Act does not mandate that the Government employ certain approaches. Rather, through reporting requirements, it will equip Federal agencies with innovative acquisition practices. It will develop best practices to improve procurement methods across the government and the PRICE Act will help small businesses conduct business within the government.

This bill does not establish permanent programs or requirements but simply requires key Federal entities to conduct careful study and distribute the resulting recommendations government-wide and to Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I wish to submit to the Senate a budget scorekeeping report. The report, which covers fiscal year 2022, was prepared by my staff on the Budget Committee and the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 308(b) and in aid of section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended. This information allows the Senate Budget Committee to determine if budgetary points of order lie against pending legislation.

The report shows the effect on spending and revenues of congressional action through September 15, 2022, as compared to the levels the Senate agreed to in the budget resolution for fiscal year 2022, S. Con. Res. 14. Since my last scorekeeping report on April 28, seven laws with significant budgetary effects have been signed by the President, and I have revised the levels in the budget resolution two times for legislation.

The Democratic staff of the Budget Committee prepared tables 1 and 2. Table 1 compares the mandatory spending of each authorizing committee against the enforceable allocations under section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act. It shows 10 of the 16 authorizing committees are in compliance with their allocations, either because no legislation with significant budgetary costs was enacted or the legislation qualified under the budget resolution for an allocation adjustment. Most of the spending above allowable levels is attributed to either the CHIPS Act of 2022 or the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022.

Table 2 shows the Senate pay-as-you-go--PAYGO--scorecard tallying enacted legislation with significant effects on mandatory spending and revenues. The scorecard shows a savings of $4.7 billion in 2022, a deficit of $174 billion over the 2022-2026 period, and a deficit of $528 billion over the 2022-2031 period. When compared to the allowable amounts on the PAYGO scorecard last adjusted on September 12, there is a deficit of $1.3 billion on the scorecard for 2022, $185 billion over the 2022-2026 period, and $667 billion over the 2022-2031 period.

In addition to these tables, I am submitting a letter from the Congressional Budget Office with further detail. For fiscal year 2022, current budgetary levels are within allowed amounts. Current law budget authority is $2.6 billion below the maximum allowed in the revised budget resolution, outlays are $17 billion below the allowed maximum, and revenues are $68 million above the allowed minimum. The tables also show that there has been no net change for Social Security.

I ask unanimous consent that the letter and accompanying tables from CBO be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. President, I wish to submit to the Senate a budget scorekeeping report. The report, which covers fiscal year 2022, was prepared by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 308(b) and in aid of section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended. This information allows the Senate Budget Committee to determine if budgetary

points of order lie against pending legislation.

The report shows the effect on spending and revenues of congressional action through April 25, 2022, as compared to the levels the Senate agreed to in the budget resolution for fiscal year 2022, S. Con. Res 14. I have revised the levels in the budget resolution five times for legislation, as authorized by the resolution. The report shows the effects of the 11 laws signed by the President since the passage of the budget resolution with significant effects on budget authority, outlays, or revenues.

Tables 1 and 2 show that for fiscal year 2022, current law budget authority is $27 billion below the maximum allowed in the revised budget resolution, outlays are $18 billion below the allowed maximum, and revenues are $0.1 billion above the allowed minimum. They also show there has been no net change for Social Security.

The third table shows the Senate pay-as-you-go scorecard tallying enacted legislation with significant effects on mandatory spending and revenues. The scorecard shows a savings of $7.8 billion in 2022, $74.8 billion over the 2022-2026 period, and $139.9 billion over the 2022- 2031 period. When compared to the allowable amounts on the PAYGO scorecard last adjusted on March 2, there is a deficit of $668 million on the scorecard for 2022, a deficit of $687 million over the 2022-2026 period, and a surplus of $1.09 billion over the 2022-2031 period.

I ask unanimous consent that the letter and accompanying tables from CBO be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 80, S. 583.

I further ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported amendments be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.