To amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to ensure proper classification as employees and independent contractors of persons awarded Federal procurement contracts.

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E398-399)

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 13, 1997

Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to: (1) make persons who willfully misclassify an individual for purposes of any employment tax ineligible for any Government contract; (2) require a person who submits a bid or proposal for a Government contract to certify that the amount of the bid or proposal is adequate to pay all employment taxes with respect to all work to be performed under the contract by the contractor's employees; (3) require each Government contract to include a requirement that the contractor provide certain notifications to each person who performs work under the contract and who is treated as an independent contractor for purposes of employment taxes; and (4) allow a person who submits a bid or proposal for a Government contract and who suffers damages as a result of the award of the contract to a person who knowingly and willfully submits a false certification to bring an action for damages against the person awarded the contract in any U.S. district court in which the defendant is located.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12] · D–CA

Committees

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Mar 6, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E398-399)
Feb 20, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology.
Feb 13, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.
Feb 13, 1997
Introduced in House
Feb 13, 1997
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Feb 13, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Mar 23, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.769 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.769, 105th Congress: To amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to ensure proper classification as employees and independent contractors of persons awarded Federal procurement contracts.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/769

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-02-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr769/BILLS-105hr769ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-03-23T12:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.769 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.769 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.769, 105th Congress: To amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to ensure proper classification as employees and independent contractors of persons awarded Federal procurement contracts.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/769

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-02-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr769/BILLS-105hr769ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-03-23T12:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.769 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.769 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.769, 105th Congress: To amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to ensure proper classification as employees and independent contractors of persons awarded Federal procurement contracts.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/769

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-02-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr769/BILLS-105hr769ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-03-23T12:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.769 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.769 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.769, 105th Congress: To amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to ensure proper classification as employees and independent contractors of persons awarded Federal procurement contracts.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/769

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-02-13.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr769/BILLS-105hr769ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-03-23T12:17:56Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.769 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.