Agency Accountability Act of 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in favor of the Agency Accountability Act. I will start by thanking the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. McGarvey) for his support with this legislation.

I can think of no better way to start off National Small Business Week than by passing legislation to ensure the Federal contracting system has a fair playing field for even the smallest of our businesses.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They are the innovators, the job creators, and the driving force behind economic growth. In Minnesota, small businesses account for over 99 percent of all businesses and employ over half of the workforce.

The very least that we can do is to ensure that small businesses have every opportunity to contract with the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world, the Federal Government.

Right now, Federal agencies set goals for awarding contracts to small businesses, but meeting those goals is often treated like a suggestion and not a requirement. The result? Too many agencies fall short, leaving billions of dollars out of reach of American small business owners.

My bill, the Agency Accountability Act, changes the game. It shines a spotlight on agency performance by requiring public testimony for failures. Agency heads will answer directly to Congress for missing goals, explaining why they haven't prioritized small businesses and what they will do to fix it.

This isn't just about finger-pointing. It is about finding solutions. Public scrutiny, paired with mandated reporting on scoreboard performance, will expose systemic roadblocks and identify best practices.

Our small businesses are more than just economic engines. They are the embodiment of the American spirit, equipped with creativity, resilience, and a fierce determination to succeed. This bill gives them a fighting chance, a seat at the table, and the opportunity to prove themselves on the national stage.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Agency Accountability Act.

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