CAPITAL ROUNDUP

Rep. Albert Wynn, D-Md., has introduced a bill to require that contracting officers determine that bidders have a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics, including a record of compliance with laws such as tax, labor and employment, environmental, antitrust and consumer protection.

The bill, H.R. 4801, attempts to codify what the Bush administration has already decided against. The Clinton administration had pursued a so-called blacklisting regulation, but after President Bush took office, the regulation was put on hold and then retracted. The Federal Acquisition Regulation Council decided last year that sufficient regulation existed.

Gary Engebretson, president of the Contract Services Association in Washington, said Wynn's bill is an "unfounded attempt to resurrect an issue that has already been decided." The bill has been referred to the House committees on government reform and armed services.President Bush called on the Senate April 4 to set a date to debate and vote on legislation that would grant the president trade promotion authority.

The trade legislation would give the president authority to negotiate trade agreements that are subject only to a congressional vote without amendments. Proponents say without this authority, many potential trading partners are reluctant to negotiate because they are wary of negotiating first with the president and later with Congress.

The House voted 215-214 to pass the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act, H.R. 3005, in December 2001.

"We are thrilled that the time has finally come to restore U.S. leadership on trade," said Cynthia Johnson, director of government relations for Texas Instruments Inc. of Dallas and the U.S. High-Tech Coalition on Trade Promotion Authority. The U.S. High-Tech Coalition on Trade Promotion Authority is made up of the nation's leading technology associations, including AeA, the Information Technology Association of America and the Electronic Industries Alliance.