Small Business Contracting Transparency Act of 2023

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Houlahan, Ms. Scholten, Mr. Stauber, and Ms. Tenney for their work on H.R. 4670 and getting it to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, well over a decade ago, I helped enact and implement the SBA's Women-Owned Small Business program to better serve female entrepreneurs and small businesses contracting with the Federal Government. Unfortunately, setting up this program proved to be a challenge, and it was delayed longer than anticipated. As of now, it is up and running, and women-owned firms are certified by the SBA or a national certifying entity to participate in contracting programs.

This has led to improvements in the program's execution and enhanced its integrity. Most importantly, it has helped thousands of women-owned firms compete in the Federal marketplace.

However, there are some aspects of the program with less visibility, including and especially the operations of the four national certifying entities working with the SBA. That is why additional oversight is warranted, and this bill provides it.

This Small Business Contracting Transparency Act requires annual reports on the WOSB certification process to ensure it is serving female entrepreneurs as we intended.

Having this information is critical to further strengthening and improving the program to meet the needs of both the Federal Government and women-owned small firms.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R.

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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Houlahan).

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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government routinely fails to meet the goals of awarding 5 percent of contract dollars to women-owned small businesses. While this administration has prioritized meeting these goals and last year awarded over $28 billion to women-owned firms, more can be done.

H.R. 4670, as amended, is an important step in that direction. It ensures that we have the necessary information to conduct proper oversight of the SBA's programs designed to assist women who start and grow government contracting firms.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsors of this bill and appreciate the bipartisan work of the committee to build in the HUBZone and SDVOSB programs. They face issues as well and could benefit from the additional reporting.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

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