Lummis and Tsongas Introduce Bill Improving Small Business and Federal Government Contracts

Press Release

In a bipartisan, bicameral effort to effectively improve government contracts, U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and U.S. Representative Niki Tsongas (D-MA) introduced H.R. 5829, the Small Business Fairness Act of 2012. This measure would amend the Small Business Act to allow for a better working relationship between American small businesses and the Federal Government H.R. 5829 is the companion measure to Senator Enzi's and Senator Casey's S. 1110.

The Small Business Fairness Act would build on regional teaming arrangement, allowing businesses to pool resources to compete for larger government procurement contracts and still keep their minority and disadvantaged contract status. Federal requirements to fulfill a percentage of contracts with small businesses owned by women, service-disabled veterans, Native Americans, socially disadvantaged individuals, or business within qualified Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Zones, can discourage qualifying businesses from teaming up if that means they lose their contract status.

"This isn't only good for the small business that will benefit from government contracts, but also for our government," Rep. Lummis said. "These contracts will be more competitive, allowing the government to choose the most competitive proposal."

"This legislation will help small businesses that are owned by women and disabled veterans or which are located in Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB Zones), which includes Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen, pool their resources to more easily do business with the federal government. Our bipartisan bill removes existing administrative barriers that unnecessarily restrict this type or activity and will help more small businesses grow and create jobs."Rep. Tsongas said.

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