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HR 2397 99th Congress House

Allowable Cost Reform Act

Official title: A bill to limit the payment of costs to defense contractors.

Introduced: June 11, 1985 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Armed Forces and National SecurityCivilian personnel positionsCost controlCosts
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Defense contractsFederal officialsFines (Penalties)Public Contracts, Procurement, and PropertySubpoena
This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) 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 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 11, 1985
Placed on Union Calendar No: 115.
Jun 11, 1985
Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on Armed Services. Report No: 99-169.
May 22, 1985
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
May 22, 1985
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 21, 1985
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
May 21, 1985
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 20, 1985
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
May 14, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Investigations.
May 7, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Armed Services.
May 7, 1985
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 11, 1985

Placed on Union Calendar No: 115.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Allowable Cost Reform Act - Requires that a contract with the Department of Defense for an amount more than $25,000 that is flexibly priced or for which certain cost or pricing data is required must: (1) disallow certain costs; and (2) impose a penalty on a contractor who submits a claim for reimbursement of such a cost.

Provides that the following costs are disallowed under such a contract: (1) costs of amusement and social activities; (2) costs incurred to influence action on legislation or appropriation matters pending before the Congress; (3) costs of the defense of any fraud proceeding; (4) fines and penalties imposed for noncompliance with Federal, State, or local laws and regulatons; (5) costs of memberships in any social or dining club or organization; (6) alcoholic beverages; (7) contributions or donations; (8) advertising; and (9) models, gifts, souvenirs, or other memorabilia.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to issue regulations concerning the allowability of contractor costs. Requires the Secretary to submit to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees a report identifying: (1) the nature of the proposed changes to be made to current cost principles; and (2) the potential effect of such changes on future requests for reimbursement of contractor costs.

Requires the Secretary to allow resolution of challenged expenses by negotiation and settlement.

Requires the Secretaries of the military departments and the Directors of the Defense Agencies to prescribe regulations to limit to five years the duty assignment for certain contracting officials to any particular contractor.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2397: Allowable Cost Reform Act. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-2397/
MLA
"H.R. 2397: Allowable Cost Reform Act." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-2397/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2397, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-2397/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2397: Allowable Cost Reform Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-2397/)
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