Contractors, industry associations urge Congress to extend Section 3610

By Marjorie Censer / December 11, 2020 at 4:26 PM

Contracting executives and industry associations have sent letters to Capitol Hill calling on Congress to extend a legislative provision that reimburses contractors for employees who are unable to work during the pandemic but are kept in a "ready state."

The chief executives of 15 companies, including several of the largest services contractors, sent a letter to congressional leaders today urging them to allow Section 3610 authority through the end of fiscal year 2021.

“Because Congress provided this authority in the CARES Act in March, we have been able to maintain thousands of critical employees who would be difficult to replace within the industrial base,” the executives wrote. “Extending these authorities, which are used by many federal agencies to maintain the capabilities and workforce necessary to meet mission needs and protect our national security and other vital programs, does not require any additional appropriation of funds.”

“[W]e urge you to include in any FY21 regular or supplemental appropriations bill, or any other available bill, a further government-wide extension of Section 3610 through September 30, 2021, the end of the fiscal year,” the executives added.

The letter was signed by the CEOs of Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI International, General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls Industries, ManTech International and Science Applications International Corp., among others.

Meanwhile, eight industry groups sent a letter last month to congressional leaders, advocating for the extension.

“This authority continues to be used by many federal agencies to maintain the capabilities and workforce necessary to meet mission needs and protect our national security and other vital programs,” they wrote.

Among the groups signing were the National Defense Industrial Association, the Professional Services Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

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