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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, August 2, 2001

Civilian defense contractor bill OK'd

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

The House Armed Services Committee approved a measure yesterday that would give civilian workers employed by the U.S. military a fairer shot at competing with outside contractors for jobs.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, said his proposed amendment to the 2002 Defense Authorization Bill "levels the playing field when managers consider whether to keep work in-house or outsource it."

Abercrombie said the amendment does not prohibit using outside contracting, but gives in-house employees an opportunity to compete with private contractors for work already being done and for new jobs.

It aims to make defense jobs equally available to federal employees and private contractors. Now, only jobs performed by federal employees are routinely subject to competitive bidding. Outsourcing can also mean some local workers lose their federal job benefits.

The amendment also requires the Department of Defense to inventory and track the cost and size of the contractor workforce.

"Our military forces need first-rate logistical support to accomplish their missions, and that's exactly what civilian workers provide," Abercrombie said yesterday. "They bring a wealth of skill, experience and well-honed teamwork to these all-important support functions. You can't duplicate those intangible but very real qualities just by signing a contract."

However, the measure may face resistance on the House floor and in a House-Senate conference committee.

Some contractor groups oppose the amendment, which passed by a 34-25 vote. Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Penn., said it would interfere with a General Accounting Office panel that is studying federal outsourcing.

Abercrombie ranks as the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee's Military Installations and Facilities Subcommittee.

Last year, he helped Navy fuel workers keep their jobs at Pearl Harbor during a privatization cost comparison, and was critical of an Army decision giving control of more than 200 civil service maintenance, supply and transportation jobs to a Florida defense contractor.