Contractor-Labor Relations.

Groups continue to unite against the proposed federal acquisition regulations contractor-labor. The regulations would dramatically disrupt the current system of federal procurement and government contracting by denying contract awards on the basis of factors unrelated to the prospective contractor's ability to perform the contract.

NDIA has joined with the National Alliance Against Blacklisting (NAAB), a group of high-profile associations and companies united in opposition to the regulations.

Thomas J. Donahue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, stated "NAAB is dedicated to defeating blacklisting and protecting the integrity of the federal contracting process. At stake is the responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, the job security of millions of workers--both union and nonunion--and the economic well-being of communities across the country."

Donahue added that roughly one-fifth of America's workers depend on fair, full and open competition in federal contracting for their jobs.

The NAAB is supporting S. 2986, sponsored by Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Alaska. The legislation strictly limits the issuance of regulations relating to federal contractor responsibility, and requires the comptroller general to conduct a review of federal contractor compliance with applicable laws, before the proposed regulations are implemented.

NDIA is also a member of the Council of Defense and Space Industry Associations (CODSIA), which has weighed in on the matter as well. The CODSIA members have urged the administration to abandon its effort to enact the changes, stating that the regulations, "add unnecessary burdens to the procurement process, will delay future contract awards and will make the government contracting process even less like commercial processes."

It should be noted that past attempts to enact "blacklisting" through legislation have failed in both Democratic and Republican controlled Congresses.