The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 856, the Bipartisan Safe and Smart Federal Purchasing Act, on Friday with a resounding 417-0 vote, greenlighting a measure spearheaded by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) to scrutinize the national security implications of current federal procurement standards.
The bill, co-led by Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.), now heads to the Senate, buoyed by rare bipartisan consensus on tightening oversight of government purchasing.
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The legislation zeroes in on the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) provisions within the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), a process letting agencies pick the cheapest bid meeting basic requirements.
Donalds’ bill tasks the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with evaluating whether LPTA’s price-first focus risks national security by sidelining technical or operational quality—especially for agencies like Defense or Homeland Security needing cutting-edge solutions. OMB must report findings to Congress within 180 days of enactment.
“Federal procurement processes—although often overlooked—are critical to the operation of our government and necessitate comprehensive assessment,” Donalds said in a statement. A House Oversight and Government Reform Committee member, he added, “Affordability considerations and associated national security risks … must be thoroughly evaluated. I am once again proud to receive the unanimous, bipartisan support of my colleagues on this common-sense proposal.”
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The bill’s journey echoes last Congress, when it cruised through the Oversight Committee (43-0) and House (397-0), only to stall in the Senate after a 10-0 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee nod.
This time, with Connolly—ranking Democrat on Oversight—as co-lead, it’s poised for a stronger Senate shot. “Simply put, we can’t let agencies cut corners that jeopardize our safety,” Connolly said on the floor, per video of the vote.
LPTA’s critics, including Donalds, argue it can shortchange long-term value for short-term savings, potentially leaving agencies with subpar tech or services—think outdated cybersecurity or flimsy military gear.
The bill doesn’t ban LPTA but demands clarity on its risks, a move hailed on X as “smart governance” by fiscal hawks and security buffs alike. “Finally, someone’s asking if cheap always means safe,” one user posted.
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Friday’s vote capped a week of momentum. Donalds’ floor speech—viewable online—framed it as a “no-brainer” for efficiency and security, while colleagues across the aisle echoed support (clips also online). The 119th Congress text, mirroring last session’s, keeps it tight: evaluate, report, act if needed—no new spending, just scrutiny.
With Trump’s administration pushing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to slash waste, Donalds’ bill fits the zeitgeist. Senate fate hinges on leaders like Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who backed it last term. For now, its 417-0 romp signals a House united—rare these days—on guarding the nation’s purse and safety in one stroke.
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