Stauber Introduces Legislation to Ensure Efficient and Cost-Effective Completion of Local Infrastructure Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) introduced the Cooperation in Local Procurement Act, legislation that will amend the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to help local governments who receive funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) complete local public transportation projects efficiently and economically by allowing them to participate in cooperative agreements for the purposes of procurement.

Of this legislation, Congressman Stauber said, “As a Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am proud to introduce legislation that will empower local governments to complete much needed public transportation projects on-time and on-budget.”

Stauber introduced this legislation along with Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who served on the House-Senate conference committee that negotiated the FAST Act that became law in 2015.

Congressman Cohen stated, “This commonsense update of the FAST Act to reflect changing procurement practices will assure that local governments can use funding that they already have more efficiently. I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of the measure.”

In Minnesota, companies like Sourcewell stand ready to connect local governments with contracts that are ready to use with vetted vendors, government regulations, and completed solicitation processes. However, federal law under the FAST Act does not currently authorize local governments to participate in cooperative agreements using FTA dollars.

Sourcewell Government Relations Associate Bill Otto stated, “Sourcewell, on behalf of the over 50,000 public government agency users of cooperative purchasing contracts across the country, applauds and thanks Representative Stauber and Representative Cohen for the Cooperation in Local Procurement Act. Cooperative purchasing is a time-tested procurement vehicle that allows local governments to better innovate, save time and money, and benefit from scales of economy. Through their outstanding leadership, this Act provides clarity in the law that allows the procurement of essential local government necessities funded through Federal Transit Association dollars that helps local governments better serve its constituents in every state and above all ensures responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars while meeting the rigorous requirements of government procurement.”