Committee votes in favor of contractor telecommuting programs

Legislation to ensure that federal contractors are allowed to have voluntary telecommuting policies for their employees won quick approval from the House Government Reform Committee Thursday.

The Freedom to Telecommute Act of 2002, H.R. 3924, which the panel approved by voice vote with no amendments, would instruct federal agencies not to prohibit or discourage their contractors from having telecommuting policies.

Exceptions would be made when agencies can demonstrate a specific justification for barring telecommuting policies, such as when their contractors deal with classified information.

"It prevents federal agencies from arbitrarily excluding, from the contracting process, contractors who allow their employees to telecommute," said Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., who chairs the Technology and Procurement Policy Subcommittee.