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HR 3838 109th Congress House

Hurricane Katrina Accountability and Contracting Reform Act

Official title: To establish the Independent Commission to Prevent Fraud and Abuse in the Response to Hurricane Katrina, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 20, 2005 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 7, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Sep 21, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines.
Sep 21, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Sep 20, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Energy and Commerce, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sep 20, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 7, 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Hurricane Katrina Accountability and Contracting Reform Act - Establishes in the legislative branch the bipartisian Independent Commission to Prevent Fraud and Abuse in the Response to Hurricane Katrina to conduct a complete, independent, and impartial investigation of federal government contracting relative to Hurricane Katrina recovery, relief, and reconstruction, as well as allegations of price gouging or profiteering.

Requires a federal agency head, within 14 days after the award of a Hurricane-related contract, to make publicly available, including by posting on the Internet in a searchable database, specified information with respect to the contract, including the name and address of the contractor and the contract's total amount.

Requires federal agency heads to provide certain contract-related information to Congress, including copies of the contract and all modifications.

Prohibits the federal government from entering into a Hurricane Katrina-related monopoly contract, with certain exceptions.

Requires the federal government to use competition in the purchase of goods and services in excess of $100,000 pursuant to any Hurricane Katrina-related multiple award contract.

Prohibits an agency from entering into a Hurricane Katrina-related contract for the performance of a function relating to contract oversight wtih any contractor with a conflict of interest.

Prohibits an agency from entering into a Hurricane Katrina-related contract for the performance of inherently governmental functions for contract oversight.

Revises the prohibition against a former official's acceptance of compensation from a contractor.

Prevents former employees of private contractors who become federal government employees from awarding government contracts to their former employers for a period of five years after leaving the private contractor's employ .

Subjects additional offenses to criminal penalties.

Amends the Second Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Meet Immediate Needs Arising from the Consequences of Hurricane Katrina to repeal the $250,000 micropurchase threshold (thus applying the regular $2,500 micropurchase threshold of federal procurement law).

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HRES 537 Related bill Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3838) to establish the Independent Commission to Prevent Fraud and Abuse …
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 7
 Cosponsors 28
All 28 Democratic 22 Independent 1
D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Dec 7, 2005
 D
DeGette, Diana
Colorado · Oct 18, 2005
 D
Larsen, Rick
Washington · Oct 18, 2005
 D
McCollum, Betty
Minnesota · Oct 6, 2005
 D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Oct 6, 2005
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Oct 6, 2005
 D
Doggett, Lloyd
Texas · Sep 28, 2005
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Sep 28, 2005
STUPAK, BART
· Sep 28, 2005
 D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Sep 27, 2005
Cardoza, Dennis
· Sep 27, 2005
 D
Case, Ed
Hawaii · Sep 27, 2005
 D
Green, Al
Texas · Sep 27, 2005
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Sep 27, 2005
MOORE, DENNIS
· Sep 27, 2005
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Sep 27, 2005
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Sep 27, 2005
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Sep 27, 2005
KANJORSKI, PAUL
· Sep 22, 2005
 D
Sánchez, Linda T.
California · Sep 22, 2005
 D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Sep 22, 2005
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Sep 20, 2005
 D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · Sep 20, 2005
 D
Lynch, Stephen F.
Massachusetts · Sep 20, 2005
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Sep 20, 2005
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Sep 20, 2005
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Sep 20, 2005
Watson, Diane
· Sep 20, 2005
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3838: Hurricane Katrina Accountability and Contracting Reform Act. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-3838/
MLA
"H.R. 3838: Hurricane Katrina Accountability and Contracting Reform Act." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-3838/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3838, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-3838/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3838: Hurricane Katrina Accountability and Contracting Reform Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-3838/)
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