Tester Pushes to Increase Transparency of Federal Government Contracts

Legislation Requires Large Federal Contracts to be Posted Online for Public View

(Big Sandy, Mont.)-U.S. Senator Jon Tester pushed to increase transparency and accountability among federal agencies and government contractors.

Tester introduced legislation that requires federal agencies to publicly post online all federal government contracts worth more than $150,000. Tester’s bill will ensure that the online database of federal contracts is organized in a searchable format and easily available to the public, reporters, and watchdogs.

“Making these documents publicly available will hold government contractors accountable to the American public,” Tester said. “This legislation will increase government transparency and shine more light on how and where the government is spending taxpayer dollars.”

The federal government spends over $400 billion on government contracts each year.

Tester earlier this week introduced his Public Online Information Act, which will make all public records from the Executive Branch permanently available on the Internet in a searchable database at no cost to constituents.

Tester was also recognized by the American Library Association during Sunshine Week as one of the most transparent members of the U.S. Senate and an advocate for public access to government information.