Mikulski Applauds Moratorium on A-76 Contracting Out, Levels Playing Field for Federal Employees

Press Release

Mikulski Applauds Moratorium on A-76 Contracting Out, Levels Playing Field for Federal Employees

"My promises made to federal employees are promises kept."

Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced Senate Passage of the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which includes a government-wide ban on all new A-76 contracting out competitions for the next year. This is a major victory for federal employees, who have had to compete on an uneven playing field under the Bush Administration's contracting out process. Senator Mikulski has been a long-time critic of the contracting out process, which often wastes taxpayer dollars, is bad for morale at federal agencies, and is dangerously slanted against federal employees.

"I promised federal employees that I would not stop my fight to protect them against unfair contracting out policies. Today, my promises made are promises kept," said Senator Mikulski. "Our federal employees are on the front lines every day, working hard for America. These hardworking men and women deserve to be treated fairly."

In May 2003, the Bush Administration issued new guidelines for public-private competitions (OMB Circular A-76) that favored contractors and stacked the deck against federal employees. Senator Mikulski has fought for years to improve the process - adding provisions in spending bills to help government workers compete for their jobs on a level playing field with contractors, and to make sure the competition process is fair before federal jobs are contracted out.

The 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act will now be sent to President Obama for his signature.

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