For immediate release: Friday, March 5, 2010
Contact: Oversight and Government Reform Press Office, 202-225-5051

Chairman Towns Announces Hearing to Examine DOT, DHS Suspension and Debarment Process

WASHINGTON – Chairman Edolphus “Ed” Towns (D-NY) today announced that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hold a hearing to examine the suspension and debarment process at the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The hearing will focus on reports issued recently by the Inspectors General at DOT and DHS that raise serious concerns about flaws in efforts to prevent persons and businesses ineligible to receive federal contracts, due to past misconduct, from receiving new awards. The hearing will take place on Thursday, March 18, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. in room 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

The hearing will focus on reports issued recently by the IGs, including the DOT Inspector General report released on January 7, 2010, entitled, “DOT’s Suspension and Debarment Program Does Not Safeguard Against Awards to Improper Parties,” and a report issued by the DHS Inspector General on February 2, 2010 entitled, “DHS’ Use of Suspension and Debarment Actions for Poorly Performing Contractors.”

Chairman Towns has focused on parties who receive new federal contracts after being debarred from contracting to bring attention to the issue and to spark changes in the contracting practices. Last year, the committee held a hearing entitled, “How Convicts and Con Artists Receive New Federal Contracts.”

Witnesses invited to testify as of March 5, 2010 include:

Mr. Calvin L. Scovel III
Inspector General
U.S. Department of Transportation

Mr. Richard L. Skinner
Inspector General
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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