Senator Stevens Cosponsors Amendment to Improve Government

Press Release

Senator Stevens Cosponsors Amendment to Improve Government Contracting Opportunities for Veteran-Owned Businesses

Senators Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) today introduced an amendment designed to improve government contracting opportunities for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) to the fiscal year 2009 Defense Authorization bill.

"The federal government continues to miss its targets for awarding a fair share of government contracts to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses," said Senator Stevens. "Our amendment would make it easier for these veterans to win contracts, hopefully giving them the boost they deserve. The efforts and sacrifices of these men and women in service to our country warrant nothing less."

The legislation would remove a barrier for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses when applying for sole-source government contracts.

The amendment would also authorize the Small Business Administration to establish a mentor-protégé program, which would enhance the capability of SDVOSBs to compete for federal contracts by encouraging private-sector relationships with other businesses. In addition, the amendment would clarify SDVOSB certification requirements and allow the surviving spouse of a veteran to retain the service-disabled veteran-owned designation for up to 10 years following the death of the service-disabled veteran.

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