A year ago, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) said she wanted to trim the federal contracting workforce by 500,000 employees. The huge growth in federal contracting, which has reached more than $440 billion a year, motivated her to speak out.

That remark continues to get attention, but there also has been increased activity in the legislative arena.

In April, Clinton introduced the Guaranteeing Real Accountability in Federal Transactions Act, in which she proposes requiring contractors to disclose to inspectors general any significant overpayments and possible legal violations.

The day before, the House passed three contracting reform bills that would eliminate an exemption for contractors performing work in foreign countries, create a database of federal contractor performance and require top executives at federal contracting firms to disclose their salaries.

“Things are moving at a torrid pace,” said Stan Soloway, president of the Professional Services Council and a Washington Technology columnist. “There is a lot of attention and a desire for action.”

Here are some of the major contracting bills under consideration:

• H.R. 3033 — The Contractors and Federal Spending Accountability Act, which would require the General Services Administration to create a database on federal contractors’ past performance. Approved by the House April 23.
• H.R. 3928 — Government Contractor Accountability Act, which would require certain contractors to reveal their top executives’ salaries. Approved by the House April 23.
• H.R. 5712 — Close the Contractor Fraud Loophole Act, which would close an exemption in the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Approved by the House April 23.
• S. 2916 — Guaranteeing Real Accountability in Federal Transactions, Act sponsored by Clinton. Introduced April 24.
• H.R. 1362 — Accountability in Contracting Act.
• H.R. 1873 — Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act.
• H.R. 3867 — Small Business Contracting Program Improvements Act.