House Introduces Comprehensive Foreign Assistance Reform Bill
January 18, 2013
On December 11, 2012, Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Rep. Gerald Conolly (D-VA) introduced the “Global Partnerships Act of 2012” (H.R. 6644). If passed, the bill would provide comprehensive updates to U.S. laws governing foreign assistance. Specifically, the bill would require the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), among other things, to:
- Take measures to help establish international standards for transparency in government contracting,
- Assist U.S. small businesses with competing for U.S. foreign assistance contracts,
- Help ensure maximum competition for foreign assistance contracts by publishing opportunities on a centralized website, and
- Work with other agencies to streamline the procurement process.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the House Committee on Rules, and the House Committee on Ways and Means.