House Passes Cole Amendment to Keep Politics Out of Federal Contracting

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the House passed his amendment to prohibit federal agencies from imposing a requirement that companies applying for federal contracts disclose political contributions. Cole's amendment was considered in conjunction with H.R. 1540, the “National Defense Authorization Act of 2012.”

The amendment addresses a draft Executive Order by the Obama administration that would require companies to disclose political activity to be eligible to apply for federal contracts.

"Government agencies should award contracts based on merit and value to taxpayers -- not politics. Americans should have the right to support the political candidates and causes of their choosing without fear that their income will be jeopardized. Political affiliation should not be a consideration in the federal procurement process, and my amendment will ensure that it won't be."